A request to join pre-season training has resulted in a first-class cricket return for former Australian Test captain Tim Paine nearly 20 months after he resigned.
Paine will play in Tasmania’s opening Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland, which begins at Allan Border Field on Thursday, his first top-level game since a sexting scandal cost him the top job.
The 37-year-old stepped away from all forms of the game last year in the wake of revelations that he sent explicit phone messages to a Cricket Tasmania employee. The scandal ended his 35-Test career.
It will mark Paine’s second cricket match since a cameo last November for Tasmanian’s second XI and a return to club cricket in Tasmania last weekend.
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Paine does not have a contract with Cricket Tasmania for the season but approached new coach Jeff Vaughan about joining in pre-season training and has been working with the team since July.
His return to the Shield competition could also be a precursor to a Big Bash return. The Hobart Hurricanes have one spot on their playing roster still to fill.
Australian Test stars Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have both been named for Queensland for the clash.
