Australian captain Tim Paine will return to grade cricket in Tasmania as Ashes preparation ramps up

Paine is back in full training after having surgery on a bulging disc in September and is raring to go for club side University against hosts South Hobart-Sandy Bay — the former club of national selection chairman George Bailey — on Saturday.

In a great sign of his progress, Paine will take the wicketkeeping gloves in the club game before backing up with a four-day game for Tasmania’s second XI against South Australia in Hobart starting on Monday.

He will be the Tigers gloveman in the four-day match as well.

Cricket Australia confirmed to the Mercury Paine would be back in action starting from this weekend.

It was toyed with Paine playing in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield game against Western Australian at Blundstone Arena starting on Sunday but was decided against as it was far easier to remove Paine from a second XI game than a first class game should something unforeseen occur.

The skipper, who turns 37 on day one of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on December 8, was being “held back” by medical staff given he hasn’t played a game of cricket since a Sheffield Shield match in April.

Meanwhile, Paine and Cricket Tasmania are still waiting on word about the location of the fifth Test, presently scheduled for Perth.

A CA spokesman said negotiations were continuing with the West Australian government over the state’s quarantine rules for visitors entering from NSW, with Sydney the host city of the fourth Test.

England strongly stated it would not be entering in quarantine again after its initial entry into Australia, leaving some doubt over Perth being able to host the Test.

CT is desperate to host a historic Ashes Test that would be Paine’s first – and possibly last — Test in his home state.

But in some good news, Hobart has been confirmed as one of the host cities for Australia’s home defence of the T20 World Cup in the back end of next year.

Premier makes push for Ashes Test in Tassie

Hosting an Ashes Test would be the biggest sporting event ever held in Tasmania, Premier Peter Gutwein said.

The Tasmanian government will today write to Cricket Australia to formally detail Tasmania’s bid to host the Fifth Test at Bellerive Oval.

Perth is scheduled to host the match starting on January 14, with all players and officials coming directly from the previous Test in Sydney.

But WA’s hard border lockdown has put the match in doubt.

Tasmania’s borders open for double-vaccinated travellers from December 15.

Mr Gutwein said it was his ambition “to put Tasmania front and centre on the national stage”.

“That is by working to host what would without doubt be the state’s biggest sporting event that we’ve hosted to date in an Ashes test match between Australia and the old enemy England here in Tasmania at Blundstone Arena,” he told parliament

“I’ve spoken to the CEO of Cricket Tasmania in recent days.

“Today I will be writing to Cricket Australia to formally put our case for the relocation of the Fifth Test match scheduled to commence on the 14th of January in WA.

“As WA clearly said their borders will not be open by then. Now the government is prepared to work with Cricket Australia to get the match played in Tasmania and the match could be the one that decides the series. Tasmania stands ready to host that important match right here.”

– Mercury