sport news Former Australian cricket captain Tim Paine set to return for Tasmania after ... trends now
View
comments
Disgraced Australian test captain Tim Paine will make his long awaited return to first class cricket with Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield on Thursday.
Paine, 37, has been named in a 13-man squad to take on Queensland at Allan Border Field in Albion.
After stepping down as Australian skipper last November following a sexting scandal with one-time Cricket Tasmania employee Renee Ferguson, some feared the wicketkeeper would be lost to the sport for good.
There were also concerns surrounding Paine's mental health after the saga - which unfolded privately in 2017 - went public.
The matter was investigated by Cricket Australia the following year after Ferguson complained - but Paine was cleared of misconduct at the time.
Former Australian test captain Tim Paine will make his first class cricket return for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield on Thursday
Paine stood down as Australian skipper last November following a sexting scandal with one-time Cricket Tasmania employee Renee Ferguson (pictured) became public knowledge
Before his fall from grace, Paine had led the Aussie team admirably since the Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal in South Africa back in 2018.
Following his shock appointment, Paine was painted as the saviour of Australian cricket after captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were both suspended for 12 months for bringing the sport into disrepute.
Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft served a nine month ban.
Eyeing off an emotional return following a 11-month hiatus, Paine, a married father of two, has kept his eye in recently by turning out for University in Tasmanian club cricket.
'He's been training with us most sessions the last five or
