Australia might be without their captain Tim Paine during the upcoming Ashes 2021-22, scheduled to commence on December 8 at the Gabba. Australia’s Test captain is likely to be out of action until early November, giving him a month to prepare for the Ashes.
Tim Paine is all set to undergo surgery on a chronic neck injury which makes him doubtful for the all-important series against arch-rivals England. The 36-year-old, who hasn’t trained in the last six weeks, earlier believed that normal treatment would enable a complete recovery but that hasn’t been the case.
Australia Might Be Without The Services Of Tim Paine Who Will Undergo Neck Surgery Before Ashes 2021/22
The decision to go under the knife was made last week, which Tim Paine believes will give him the best opportunity to recover. The doctors feel the Tasmanian cricketer could start training within a month from the date of surgery, which gives him a month to prepare for the Ashes 2021-22. Tim Paine, who has been under the scanner for his inconsistency of late, will be desperate to prove his worth against the England side.
Tim Paine’s captaincy and his wicket-keeping standards have come under severe criticism ever since India thrashed Australia 2-1 in the recently-concluded 4 match Test series. Tim Paine has led his country to 11 wins, four draws, and eight defeats.
Under Tim Paine’s leadership, Australia has retained the Ashes and won 11 of 23 matches, but has lost two successive home series to India. Australia has only played four Tests in the last 18 months – all against India last season – with the tour of South Africa earlier this year postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.
Tim Paine Grabbed The Spotlight For Commentating On The Afghanistan Issue
Tim Paine recently grabbed the spotlight, saying it will be difficult for Afghanistan to participate in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, slated to commence on October 17 in the UAE and Oman.
Speaking to SEN radio show,Australian skipper Tim Paine said: “I don’t think we want to be associated with countries that are taking opportunities or things off literally half their population.”
“We’ve heard nothing from the ICC, which is fascinating given there is a T20 World Cup in just over a month’s time. I’d imagine it’s impossible [for Afghanistan to take part] if teams are pulling out of playing against them and governments are not letting them travel to our shores. How a team like that can be allowed to play in an ICC-sanctioned event is going to be very, very hard to see,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan has hit back at Tim Paine in an open letter.
Addressing the Aussie cricketer, Afghan wrote: “It requires too much of hard work and dedication to reach this level of cricket. For a less privileged cricketing nation as Afghanistan with zero infrastructure and support, reaching where we are right now and playing shoulder to shoulder with top 10 countries requires sheer determination, passion, and talent,” Aghan said in the letter.
“Therefore, you should refrain from delivering aggressive statements which would result in isolating the Afghan cricket,” he added.
Incidentally, Afghanistan is placed with India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and two qualifying teams in the Super 12s.