Paine Firms As Next 'Keeper

SPORT Paine firms as next ’keeper By TOM WALD stand with long-time Tasmanian at Lord’s teammate Ben Hilfenhaus (56no) BAD news for prospective Aust- at Lord’s on Day 3. ralian Test wicketkeepers. The pair have come up through Tim Paine is hammering down the junior ranks, even playing in the the position of Brad Haddin’s same grade side in Hobart and it was successor. a nice touch that the wicketkeeper’s The 25-year-old Tasmanian has maiden Test dismissal came off been a class act with the gloves Hilfenhaus’s bowling. against Pakistan in the first Test ‘‘It was a lot of fun today putting at Lord’s. on some runs which is something we He has allowed only two byes in don’t normally do,’’ Paine said. his first 77.5 overs behind the The blond-haired gloveman is in stumps for Australia and dealt well the side because of Haddin’s trouble- with the swinging ball and occas- some elbow and will make way ional waywardness from when the 32-year-old New South his bowlers. Welshman returns from injury later He comfortably snapped up his on in the year. first four catching opportunities in But Paine has only enhanced his the baggy green and overcame cop- ping a nasty ball in the groin to score standing as the next long-term 47 in Australia’s second innings keeper in the past month. on Thursday. He laughed at the fact that No. 10 ‘‘My first innings wicketkeeping Hilfenhaus had made a better score settled me down a little bit because at Lord’s than skipper Ricky Pont- my first innings as a Test batsman I ing had managed at the ground could not feel my feet,’’ he said. during his stellar career. ‘‘I think to get out there to spend ‘‘I don’t think Hilf is smart enough those 40 overs in the field in a Test to recognise that sort of stuff,’’ match (in the first dig) has definitely he said. settled me down.’’ Paine said he and fellow Test Paine batted for nearly an hour in rookie Steve Smith, 21, had become making only seven in his first Test good mates on the tour. knock and said the experience was a ‘‘We have spent a lot of time up the bit of a blur. back of the bus this tour already. ‘‘I can’t remember too much about it, I can’t even remember marking ‘‘I think having someone else centre,’’ he said. there who is experiencing the same ‘‘I could not remember if I had thing as you and being decent mates marked centre, I had to ask Huss with them certainly helps.’’ (Mike Hussey) at one stage if With the way Paine and Smith I had. It was a bizarre feeling.’’ have started their international He showed a lot more composure careers, it is a good thing they NEXT IN LINE: Stand-in wicketkeeper Tim Paine has made an impressive Test debut against Pakistan in compiling a 74-run ninth wicket get along. Starting next Monday, your NT News will look a whole lot di!erent. NTNE-WS-17-J81KGE:MPUB: DA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: www.ntnews.com.au Northern Territory News, Saturday, July 17, 2010 — 81.

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