Ashes 2017-18: Australia likely to sack Matt Renshaw, rope in Tim Paine as wicketkeeper

The Australian selectors are keeping a close eye on the domestic performances of the players. The first Test of the Ashes 2017-18 is all set to be played at the Gabba, Brisbane commencing on November 23. The squad is likely to be announced soon. Meanwhile, there are speculations that the selectors could stun everyone by roping in Tim Paine.

One of the biggest selection conundrums that the Australian selectors have had over the last few months has been over the wicketkeeping position. Matthew Wade, who has been with the side this season in the same role, averages less than 30 with the bat in Tests and has failed to score runs in Bangladesh and India.

There were rumors of Peter Neville making a comeback to the side after a year. But now, as per the recent reports in the Daily Telegraph, Tasmanian gloveman Tim Paine is set to leapfrog both Wade and Nevill to make it to the squad for the first Ashes Test. This could come as a big surprise since Tim Paine has not donned the gloves for his domestic side this season at all.

He was last seen in the T20I series against India. Paine has played 4 Tests thus far, the last of which had come way back in the year 2010. He suffered a finger injury after which it seemed improbable for the Tasmanian to make a comeback in the Australian side in the longest format.

In other developments, opener Matt Renshaw is likely to be dropped from the squad. Renshaw had made an impressive start to his career last year by scoring heavily against Pakistan and a decent run against India. But a lean patch in the recent times could see him making way for Cameron Bancroft’s Test debut.

Australia Predicted squad for first Ashes Test:

David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird (12th).