George Bailey To Step Aside From Voting On Whether Tim Paine Will Remain In Ashes 2021/22 Team Or Not

Nov 23, 2021 at 6:08 PM

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George Bailey To Step Aside From Voting On Whether Tim Paine Will Remain In Ashes 2021/22 Team Or Not

George Bailey, the Australian chief selector, said Tuesday he will step aside from voting on whether tainted skipper Tim Paine should remain in the Australian Test cricket side if there is a split decision, given their healthy personal and business relationship.

Tim Paine abruptly quit as skipper on Friday ahead of the Ashes 2021/22 series against England over a series of lewd text messages with a female colleague in 2017 that was about to be made public.

Australia Test skipper Tim Paine (Photo | AP)
Australia Test skipper Tim Paine (Photo | AP)

George Bailey Would Step Aside if Voting Takes Place To Determine Whether Tim Paine Will Play As A Keeper

But he made clear he still wants to play as wicketkeeper in the opening Test in Brisbane on December 8. That decision will be made by a three-man selection panel comprising George Bailey, coach Justin Langer, and the recently appointed Tony Dodemaide.

George Bailey, who took over from Trevor Hohns as head selector earlier this year, is a close friend of Tim Paine, having long played together at Tasmania. They are also co-investors in a gym business in the state. George Bailey, who played 125 times for Australia, joined the selection panel in 2019 before he selected squads for the T20I World Cup (which Australia won) and the Ashes 2021/22.

George Bailey appointed chair of the National Selection Panel.(Getty Images)
George Bailey was appointed chair of the National Selection Panel. (Getty Images)

“If the panel was not in agreeance with Tim’s position going forward and it was going to come down to a vote, then I would step aside and leave that to Tony and Justin to work through,” George Bailey said. “They’re both aware of that.”

Tim Paine, 36, has suggested he may retire altogether after the Ashes 2021/22, and if he is not picked for Brisbane, it could spell the end of his international career. Working against him is a lack of match practice after invasive surgery in September for pain in his neck and left arm due to a bulging disc.

George Bailey: Selectors Will Be Watching Tim Paine Closely

Tim Paine made his return for Tasmania’s second XI in Hobart on Monday, grabbing six catches. George Bailey, a former skipper of the Australian limited-overs teams, said selectors were watching how he fares closely.

“One thing Tim’s always been pretty good at is the preparation side of things. He is quite meticulous,” George Bailey said. “There is no doubt it is not an ideal preparation, but we’ll watch this game and he’ll know how he gets through the four days as much as anyone.”

Alex Carey--Getty Images
Alex Carey–Getty Images

If they opt against him, Alex Carey is seen as a favourite to take the gloves in Brisbane. Alex Carey has played 45 ODIs and 11 T20Is but is yet to play the longest format. He debuted in 2018, and his last limited-overs game came against West Indies (ODI) and Bangladesh (T20) in July-August 2021.

Tim Paine’s captaincy and his wicket-keeping standards have come under severe criticism ever since India thrashed hosts Australia 2-1 in the 4 match Test series Down Under. Tim Paine has led his country to 11 wins, four draws, and eight defeats.

Under Tim Paine’s leadership, Australia had retained the Ashes and won 11 of 23 matches but had lost two successive home Test series to India.

Tim Paine-the 36-year-old’s career is in the shambles after the ‘sexting scandal’ with a co-worker back in 2017 surfaced recently.

In the aftermath of the incident, Tim Paine stepped down as the skipper of the Australian Test team after serving them since March 2018 following the Sandpaper Gate ball-tampering scandal, which resulted in captaincy bans to Steve Smith and David Warner.

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