Published: Dec 12, 2018, 01:07 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 12, 2018, 01:07 PM (IST)
Allaying fears of Tim Paine missing the second Test against India starting Friday in Perth, Australia coach Justin Langer has confirmed his captain’s availability for the crunch game.
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Paine was hit on his finger while batting in the first Test at Adelaide and there were genuine concerns he might not be a sure starter in Perth. It was the same finger that had kept him out for several years requiring him to undergo seven operations after copping a blow while batting against Dirk Nannes in 2010.
Paine had already confirmed his finger was fine when questioned during the post-match presentation on Monday. Now, Langer has said the Australia Test captain is 100 per cent fit.
I agree , well said coach. @MacquarieSport @cricketcomau “Time Paine is the toughest pretty boy I know!” Justin Langer declares the skipper a certainty for the second Test.
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 11, 2018
“He is the toughest pretty boy I’ve ever met in my life,” Langer said ahead of the team’s departure for Perth on Tuesday. “Even if it was snapped in about four places, he’d be still right. But he’s absolutely fine. Obviously he has had issues with it before. But he is 100 per cent ready to go.”
Australia have put faith in the same squad to help them draw level in the four-match series with the exception of paceman Chris Tremain who hasn’t travelled with the team.
“We’ve picked the same squad. Chris Tremain’s not coming over. So we’ve got 13 instead of 14. The three quicks pulled up really well. Peter Siddle’s ready to go if we need him to play the Test match,” Langer said.
