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Tim Paine starts his long route back after 18 months. posted under: Australia | All news Australian wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine has been completely out of intense action for the past eighteen months. He injured his right index finger when it was struck by a blistering quick one from Dirk Nannes. He underwent surgery but as fate would have it, he broke the same finger while batting in the nets! Speaking about the injury to a cricket portal, Tim Paine said, “It was probably about 18 months ago now, I just copped one in the ACA Player's game, it was quite a nasty break and I have had a few issues since then with plates that were inserted in the finger breaking and the bone not healing.” Paine has been training at the Australian Centre for Cricketing Excellence in Brisbane and seems to be getting back on track to face live action. His first set of active cricket in eighteen months is due in July, when the Australia A team will tour England. Paine said that he is keeping wickets perfectly but is a bit nervous while batting. One empathizes as after all, he damaged his finger and was out of competitive cricket because of injuries suffered while batting. Speaking about this surgeries and grafts. Paine said, “I’ve had some unsuccessful bone grafts, so it’s been a pretty frustrating year in that sense but I think the last operation I had we seem to have got it right.” According to the AAP, Explaining his feelings when batting these days, Paine said, “I was a bit nervous to be honest as it's been a long time.” He further added, “I've got new gloves and a lot of padding so I have to get used to holding the bat differently.” Paine would obviously feel encouraged by the fact that the Australian team captain Michael Clarke told the Telegraph that with his return, Paine will naturally be considered for selection. Clarke said, “If he (Tim Paine) is picked for Australia A (tour of England) he is obviously in contention. Before Painey got injured he played Test and one-day cricket for Australia and it is great to see him back playing.” Meanwhile the competition for the position of Australian wicket-keeper just got more interesting with Paine coming back into the contention. Brad Haddin and Mathew Wade are already giving selectors nightmares over who they can pick and with Paine in the equation, the decision is obviously going to be tough. Michael Clarke, who is actively involved in the selection of the team said, “It is a great problem to have.” He added, “We are going to have a tough decision.” Paine expects to get back into the groove soon. Speaking to an Australian Sports portal, he said, “I’m going to have a really good build-up to that series here, by the time I get to England I expect to be playing as well as I was two years ago. My goal is to score a lot of runs, keep well and put my name back up for selection for Australia in any form of the game.” Type Your Comments be the first to Comment