Paine performed brilliantly behind the stumps in the ongoing Ashes series answering all his critics, who had questioned his selection in the side. Given that Paine was playing second fiddle to Matthew Wade at Tasmania, his inclusion didn't go down well with the cricket experts.
However, the player who was under scrutiny even before the start of the series finally stole the limelight on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test, when his successful appeals got Australia wickets of Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad. Earlier in the game, Paine's lone appeal for an Ali stumping was referred to the TV umpire, who after seeing numerous replays finally decided that no part of the foot had been behind the line and adjudged him out.
As if it wasn't enough for him to prove his worth behind the stump, the 32-year-old was involved in another controversial dismissal of the day, when he appealed for Stuart Broad’s wicket in the 71st over of England’s second innings. Mitchell Starc had offered a full delivery outside the off-stump and Broad, who was playing at 2, tried defending it and getting a slight edge in the process. Paine caught the delivery and claimed it before realizing that he was the only one from the Australian side to appeal for it, as even Starc was unsure about it and started smiling after watching Paine’s confident appeal.
Paine, who is playing only the fifth Test of his career, then convinced skipper Steve Smith to go for the review. While in normal replays, it was hard to judge the incident, HotSpot revealed a tiny mark that was followed by a spike in the UltraEdge as well. Broad couldn’t believe when ground umpire signalled him to return to the pavilion.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Paine's performance
He surely can do that
This Tim Paine can even successfully apply for review in Pune University... Brilliant review
— Akshay Kokde (@AkshayKokde)
We too
I feel sick for Tim Paine right now.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX)
Well every other wicket keeper is better than Wade *cough*
Tim Paine contributed brilliantly today...
— Gaurav Sonwal (@GauravHill49)
1 stumping of Moeen Ali...
2 Good Appeal...
Seems like Far Better than Matthew Wade ✌
Tim Paine - Controversial yet great Test selection
Tim Paine is one of my favourite cricketers. But while the whispers were pretty strong over the last month, this is truly one of the great Test selection shocks of all time!
— Adam White (@White_Adam)
Reason revealed
Tim Paine must have microphones in his ears. That was brilliant.
— Ingrid Harrison (@IngridHarrison)
Explanation offered
Is Tim Paine’s dad the third umpire?
— chris (@dunnee88)
He will surely win if the results are reviewed
Tim Paine for PRIME MINISTER of AUSTRALIA plz!
— PRANTIK (@toyingwith_life)
Wait. What?
Australia should send Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine to open the innings.
— Cricket Fantasy (@Cricket_Fantasy)
True that
Tim Paine only bloke in Australia that can hear a woman pass wind
— Shyam Menasse (@ShyamMenasse1)
New selection criteria Aussie Wicket-Keeper
So the selectors picked Tim Paine because of terrific ears too. Legends.
— Ahnaf Tahmed Faiz (@Fareen21)
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