Australia chief selector George Bailey says will recuse himself if there is vote on Tim Paine’s position

Australia chief selector George Bailey said that he would step aside from any potential situation in which the panel has to vote for or against keeping wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine in the Ashes squad. Paine abruptly stepped down as Australia captain after lewd messages that he had sent to a female colleague in Cricket Tasmania in 2017 came to light just days before the start of the Ashes.

Paine is the only specialist wicketkeeper in Australia’s 15-man squad to face England but selector George Bailey confirmed he is no lock for the first Ashes test starting in Brisbane on Dec. 8.

“If the panel was not in agreement on Tim’s position going forward, and it was going to come down to a vote, then I would step aside and leave that to Tony (Dodemaide) and Justin (Langer) to work through,” Bailey told the Cricket Etc podcast. “They’re both aware of that.”

Former Australia captain Bailey took over from Trevor Hohns as head selector earlier this year. He is a close friend of Paine, having long played together at Tasmania, and are also co-investors in a gym business in the state.

Paine is the only specialist wicketkeeper in Australia’s 15-man squad to face England but selector George Bailey confirmed he is no lock for the first Ashes test starting in Brisbane on Dec. 8.

Paine, who has not played a first-class match since April, only made his return to competitive cricket from neck surgery on Monday, turning out for Tasmania’s second XI against a South Australia side in Hobart.

As fellow Tasmanian Bailey looked on, Paine took six catches and moved well behind the stumps.

“One thing Tim’s always been pretty good at is the preparation side of things. He is quite meticulous,” said Bailey.

“There is no doubt it is not an ideal preparation, but we’ll watch this game and he’ll know how he gets through the four days as much as anyone.”