Long touted as a future Test star, Tim Paine was struck down with the recurrence of a serious finger injury just as his international career was taking off.

Having received a rookie contract with Tasmania at the age of 16, Paine was elevated into the Australian side on the back impressive performances in both one-day and first-class cricket for the Tigers, and an innings of 134 off 136 balls for Australia A against Pakistan A.

He made his ODI debut in August 2009 against Scotland, replacing the injured Brad Haddin, and a month later scored 111 against England at Trent Bridge.

Paine was a part of Australia’s successful Champions Trophy campaign in South Africa before he scored a century as Tasmania won the 2009–10 Ford Ranger Cup final against Victoria.

He made his Test debut against Pakistan later that year and scored an impressive 92 against India in Mohali in October, but his career was derailed just a month later when he suffered a broken finger in the ‘All Stars’ exhibition match in Brisbane.

After five operations and fears that his career was over, Paine returned for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes after missing almost two full seasons, but failed to immediately replicate the form that saw him at the peak of his powers in 2010.

The nephew of former Essendon player Robert Shaw, Paine stood down as Tasmania’s vice-captain in 2014 in a bid to focus on his own game.

Paine completed a stunning return to international cricket for the 2017-18 Ashes series and is the current captain of the Test team.