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Tim Paine’s withdrawal from cricket in the aftermath of his sex texts has opened the possibility that Australia could field an Englishman behind the stumps in the upcoming Ashes.
Josh Inglis — a former Yorkshire age-group cricketer whose family emigrated to Western Australia in January 2010, six weeks shy of his 15th birthday — admitted to Sportsmail four years ago that he still supported England despite his career goal being to don the famous baggy green cap.
That opportunity could now present itself over the next few weeks as the 26-year-old is vying with Alex Carey to inherit the wicketkeeping gloves.
Josh Inglis was born in Yorkshire but his family moved to Western Australia when he was 14
The wicketkeeper has played in England for with Leicestershire and London Spirit
The Australian selectors, who yesterday confirmed Pat Cummins as Paine’s successor and the country’s 47th Test captain — in addition to sanctioning Steve Smith’s return to a leadership position in the guise of vice-captain — will promote a wicketkeeper to their squad for the first two Tests.
Although Carey is favourite to step up after four years as a white-ball international, with those close to the team suggesting any other pick would erode trust within the dressing room, the alternative within the Australia A ranks is Inglis, who has two hugely influential supporters in Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting.
A recall for Matthew Wade, 34, is viewed as unlikely despite his two Ashes hundreds in 2019.
Tim Paine announced his resignation in a statement last week in a teary press conference
In recent times, Inglis has become familiar in the UK as a successful overseas player with Leicestershire and London Spirit.
But he previously played for Yorkshire as a schoolboy up to Under 14 level, and returned temporarily from Perth in his late teens to feature as a second XI
