Tim Paine's selection is not based on performance: Matthew Hayden

32-year-old Tim Paine was in the news after the Australian selectors announced the squad for the Ashes series, starting in Brisbane on 23rd November onwards. The wicketkeeper has been recalled into the side after a gap of seven years to feature in the high-profile series. Paine wants to go out in the field and play his best brand of cricket after injuries cut short his career.

Paine has recently said that he wants to look forward and remember the days where he gave his all in the field instead of the comparisons of what he could have been. The cricketer has eight pins and a metal plate in his right index finger. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has said that he has always been a fan of Paine. But the recent inclusion hasn’t been a performance-based selection. He also said that Matthew Wade has been so poor during his recent games that he had to be replaced. The fact is Paine doesn’t even keep wickets for his state team Tasmania.

I have been a Paine fan: Hayden

“The selectors have replaced a 29-year-old (Matthew Wade) with somebody who is 32… Look, I have always been a Paine fan and the upcoming Ashes would be a good opportunity for him. However, fact is that Paine hasn’t played Test cricket for seven years and, in that period, didn’t really bang the selection door with outstanding performances at the domestic level.” Hayden said

“Yet, in some ways, it’s like a compensation for the opportunities Paine didn’t get early in his career… Wade was so bad that the selectors simply had to replace him. The irony, of course, is that Paine doesn’t even keep for Tasmania. Wade does. So, it hasn’t been a performance-driven selection.” he added. Apart from Paine, Shaun Marsh has also been recalled into the side to strengthen the middle-order and cement the no.6 spot.