Birthday special: Tim Paine – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Tim Paine stepped down from Test captaincy last year after the ‘sexting scandal’ popped up against him. Paine is considered to be among the best wicketkeepers in Australia, especially for the technique he possesses. He took over the leadership in Tests when the team was in complete disarray in 2018 due to the ball-tampering scandal. He has played 35 Tests, 35 ODIs and 12 T20Is after making his international debut in 2009 and the right-hander celebrates his 38th birthday today (December 8). Let us look at his top three performances in international cricket.
61* vs Pakistan, Dubai 2018
Paine played one of the best match-saving innings for Australia in the 2018 tour to UAE with the big names missing from the squad. Australia was set a target of 462 to win the first Test in Dubai, and they were in a spot of bother, having lost five wickets for 252. They still had more than two sessions to play and Paine managed to hold one end with an important unbeaten 61 to draw the Test. The right-hander played 194 deliveries in the innings while Nathan Lyon helped him at the other end.
73* vs India, Adelaide 2020
Paine bagged the Player of the Match in the famous Adelaide Test in 2020 when India were bowled out for 36 in the second innings. Paine scored an unbeaten 73 from just 99 deliveries with ten boundaries in the first innings which helped Australia to a decent total of 191. He also picked up seven catches in the Test as Australia thrashed India by eight wickets.
111 vs England, Nottingham 2009
The only century for Paine in international cricket came against England in the 2009 Nottingham ODI. The right-hander opened the innings and scored 111 off 148 deliveries with 14 fours and one six in his innings. Paine’s knock helped Australia to 296 for 8 in their 50 overs, and the visitors won the game by 111 runs in the end.
