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Exclusive: Tim's pain passes in eventful 2017

In an exclusive interview with cricket.com.au on Thursday, Tim Paine reflects on how he nearly walked away from the game

After one of the most eventful years of his life, Tim Paine is set to be back in the Baggy Green with a fresh perspective on the game he almost walked away from earlier this year.

Cricket.com.aubelieves Paine's shock return to Test cricket will be confirmed on Friday morning when Cricket Australia announces its squad for the first two Magellan Ashes Tests against England.

His return to the Test set-up for the first time in more than seven years would come just months after he was poised to quit first-class cricket for good and pursue a career outside the playing arena.

Having been set to move to Melbourne to take up a job at cricket equipment manufacturer Kookaburra, Paine was given a lifeline when the post-season upheaval in Tasmania earlier this year – including the sacking of coach Dan Marsh – led to an unexpected two-year contract extension.

Paine displays class with unbeaten half-century

Speaking to cricket.com.au on Thursday evening before reports of his shock recall emerged, the 32-year-old was clearly unaware of rumours he was about to return to the Test side.

He said facing his cricketing mortality earlier this year had given him renewed vigour heading into his 12th season with the Tigers.

"I wasn't far off taking a job at Kookaburra so to even be playing first-class cricket is probably more than I expected at one stage," Paine said in an exclusive interview at the MCG.

"I've been lucky that there's been a lot of changes at Cricket Tasmania and it's kind of refreshed myself and a few of the older guys.

"So it feels like a new job at the moment and it's really exciting.

"I'm enjoying playing cricket again, which is the main part. Four-day cricket has been a bit of a struggle for me in the past few years.

Paine defies England with gritty fifty

"So it's nice to come out the other side and start to play well and enjoy it again."

There has been a major change in Paine's personal life too in the form of a baby girl, his first child with wife Bonnie.

And his reaction to his three-ball duck on day one of Tasmania's JLT Sheffield Shield match against Victoria this week indicated fatherhood had also given him a fresh perspective on the game.

"My life has definitely changed, whether that's helping me (on the field), I'm not too sure," he said of five-month old Milla.

"I was speaking to Dools (teammate Alex Doolan) after the first innings when I got out for zero ... usually I think I'd probably kick a few cans. But I said, 'No I'm fine, it's just a game'.

"I think since we've had her, it has become just a game. You get home and you see her and you don't really care."

The four-Test gloveman also dismissed any fears that his lack of first-class cricket in recent years has had an adverse effect on his keeping skills.



Paine has been Australia's T20 wicketkeeper for the past seven matches, captained and kept wicket for the CA XI against England in Adelaide last week, and stood at first slip alongside Test incumbent Matthew Wade for most of this week's Shield game. But he has kept in only four first-class games in the past 18 months.

However, having been long regarded as one of the cleanest glovemen in the country, he said his muscle memory from years of crouching behind the stumps has held him in good stead. 

"Keeping is something I've been really comfortable with over a long period of time," he said. "I don't really have to work on that as much.

"If there's something you mentally feel really good about, it's a confidence thing.

Paine's sensational catch standing up at stumps

"It's a bit of a challenge at the moment. I've been trying to do as much as I can at training and I've been trying to play as much club cricket as I can."

Had Paine quit first-class cricket this year, it would have been a sad final chapter in a frustrating career that had promised so much but, up until this week, failed to deliver on expectations.

Once touted as a future Test captain by Steve Waugh, Paine looked set to realise his enormous potential when he played four Tests and 26 one-day internationals between 2009 and 2011, including an ODI century in England and a Test 92 in India.

But a finger injury suffered in an exhibition game in 2010 set off a devastating and lengthy battle to regain full fitness, including six failed operations to mend the shattered digit.

If anyone deserved a good break (excuse the pun) or two, it was Paine.

And 2017 has delivered just that.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21