'Best wicketkeeper in the world': Bowlers back Paine

Nathan Lyon has declared Tim Paine remains the best wicketkeeper in the world, insisting the entire Test bowling attack wants the former captain to be behind the stumps during the Ashes.

The involvement of Paine, who will link up with Australia's Test squad on the Gold Coast this weekend after featuring in a Marsh One-Day Cup match in Hobart on Friday, in the five-Test campaign against England has come into sharp focus.

Not only did he resign as captain last week, but the wicketkeeper's match fitness has also been in question given recent neck surgery has kept him out of the Marsh Sheffield Shield season so far.

But a ringing endorsement from Lyon, whose own success is arguably more dependent on the team's gloveman than any other member of the side, backed Paine to take the gloves at the Gabba on December 8.

The off-spinner disagreed with Ricky Ponting's suggestion Paine will inevitably be a distraction during the summer.

"The selectors always said they were going to pick the best available XI and in my eyes Tim Paine is the best keeper in the world," said Lyon, who described the sound of the ball hitting Paine's gloves as "music to my ears".

"I know I want him.

"This is very selfish from a bowler's point of view, I want the best gloveman behind the stumps. In my eyes that's Tim Paine.

"Every (Test) bowler's relationship with (Paine) is exceptional and Tim Paine is a very lovable guy and a very well-respected guy within the changeroom.

"I think every bowler – I'm pretty sure I'm speaking on behalf of every bowler (in the Test team) –we want the best keeper. As I keep saying, I can't say it any more times, Tim is the best keeper in the world."

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are in the Australia A squad and look set to be part of next week's intra-squad match at Redlands, but Paine is the only wicketkeeper in the main Test group.

The 36-year-old looked to have lost none of his touch with the gloves as he snared eight catches in his first match back since the invasive operation on his neck in September and will spend a further 50 overs behind the pegs in Tasmania's one-day game against Western Australia.

Paine, who managed scores of only 1 and 7 in the Tigers' second XI match against South Australia, will bat at No.3 in Friday's 50-over match.

"We're preparing him to play Test cricket so he needed to play this week from a physical and cricket point of view," Tasmania coach Ali de Winter said Thursday. "We want him to play tomorrow (in the Marsh Cup) and we'll do everything we can to prepare him for that first Test match."

Paine is expected to travel to Queensland on Saturday, with the full Test squad to assemble on Tuesday in Brisbane when the returning players from the World Cup, as well as those who arrived from Melbourne and Sydney, are released from quarantine.

"Tim made a mistake, he owned it and for me that shows great courage," Lyon told reporters from the Aussies' quarantine training camp on the Gold Coast. "Tim's got my full support. I'm looking forward to catching up with him as soon as we get out of quarantine up here."

The final touches of Australia's Ashes preparations are under a cloud – literally, with parts of Queensland experiencing flash flooding after 140mm of rain fell in Brisbane on Tuesday – but Lyon is unfazed.

Just 29 overs were possible in England's intra-squad match at Peter Burge Oval as Brisbane experienced its wettest November day in 40 years and there is a strong possibility Australia's warm-up game next week at the same venue could be rain-affected as well.

"For me personally, I'm ready to go," said Lyon, who played two Sheffield Shield games for NSW before heading to Queensland. "The intensity of training here in quarantine has been exceptional, to be honest.

"I wouldn't be concerned if the weather plays a role in our lead up."

"A big focus for us in quarantine has been when we're training that we're going at close to 100 per cent. There's been some really good competition out in the middle and throughout the net sessions as well."

Vodafone Men's Ashes v England

Tour Matches

Nov 30 – Dec 3: England v England Lions, Brisbane

Dec 1-3: Australian intra-squad match, Brisbane

Dec 9-12: Australia A v England Lions, Brisbane

Tests

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Perth Stadium