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Australias Chief Selector George Bailey Withdraws From Voting On Paines Selection

Australia’s chief selector George Bailey withdraws from voting on Paine’s selection

Tim Paine’s position in the Australian cricket team for the upcoming Test series looks in jeopardy post his resignation as skipper after the sexting scandal came to light. Added to it is the bad from that Paine has shown in his return to playing cricket for Tasmania second XI against South Australia.

With all things going on around Paine, his close friend and Australia’s chief selector George Bailey has pulled out of voting on Paine’s selection in the playing XI for the first Ashes Test starting on December 08 at the Gabba.

"If the panel was not in agreeance 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 and Justin to work through. They're both aware of that," Bailey was quoted as saying in the Cricket Etc podcast.

Usually, the selection panel comprises Chief selector Bailey, coach Justin Langer and the recently appointed Tony Dodemaide.

Reasoning as to why he is pulling out, Bailey said, "By saying that (he would recuse himself of a vote on Paine), it sounds like Tim is the only close friend I have. Since the day I was given the opportunity to have that role, we've been aware that that's the case. I have strong friendships and relationships that go back a number of years with the players," said Bailey.

Bailey and Paine have been friends and playing mates for the last 15 years having played for Tasmania and Australia together.

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Cricket Tasmania chairman calls CA’s treatment of Tim Paine worst for any Aussie captain in 50 years

Cricket Tasmania has come in full support of its stalwart and recently resigned Australian captain Tim Paine because of the way he has been treated by Cricket Australia post his resignation. CT chairman Andrew Gaggin in a letter of support to Paine, which was filled with criticism of CA, lashed out at the cricket governing body of the country. Gaggin went on to say that it is the worst treatment for any Australian captain in the last 50 years, claiming that Bill Lawry was probably the only captain in recent history to have been treated worse than Paine. "In conversations, I have had in recent days, it is clear the anger amongst the Tasmanian cricket community and the general public is palpable. Tim Paine has been a beacon for Australian cricket over the past four years and instrumental in salvaging the reputation of the national team after the calamity of Cape Town. Yet, at a time when CA should have supported Tim, he was evidently regarded as dispensable. The treatment afforded to the Australian Test captain by CA has been appalling, and the worst since Bill Lawry 50 years ago,” Gaggin said in a statement released on November 23rd. "The Cricket Tasmania Board reaffirmed its view that Paine should not have been put in a position where he felt the need to resign over an incident that was determined by an independent inquiry at the time to not be a breach of the Code of Conduct and was a consensual and private exchange that occurred between two mature adults and was not repeated,” he added saying that Paine was in no way responsible for the second investigation in a closed matter which CA itself oversaw. Earlier, current CA chairman Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley had said that they would have axed Paine as the captain had they been in charge in 2018.

WATCH: Dhananjaya de Silva gets out hit wicket during first Test vs West Indies

Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva found a distinguished way of getting himself out during the first Test against West Indies in Galle. Dhanajaya knocked off the bails while trying to keep away the ball from the stumps. He was undone for 61 in the first innings of the clash. Batting, first Sri Lanka scored 386 after Karunaratane struck a century while Pathum Nissanka and De Silva chipped in with individual fifties. Roston Chase scalped a fifer for 83 for West Indies during the course. In reply, the Caribbean side was pushed on to the back foot after they were reduced to 113/6 on the second day of the match. Ramesh Mendis returned with figures of 3/23 while Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder were at the crease before the stumps were called. West Indies are touring Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series and both the matches will be played in Galle.

SL vs WI | 1st Test, Day 2 Report - Sri Lanka spinners take control, reduce Windies to 113/6

Sri Lanka look like they are in for a big win on the second day of the first Test match of the series against West Indies at the Galle International Stadium in Colombo. The hosts, owing to a splendid 147 runs from captain Dimuth Karunaratne got into a commanding position despite the visitors making inroads into the SL middle order. Lanka scored 386 runs batting 144 overs. Coming into bowl, Sri Lanka only bowled five overs of pace at the top and introduced the returning Lasith Embuldeniya from the sixth over. Things took time as a patient Windies pairing added 46 runs in 20 overs, before Embuldeniya broke through their batting removing Jermaine Blackwood batting at 20. Sri Lanka took two more wickets in the next 12 overs cleaning up the top three, and from thereon Windies looked in shambles losing three wickets in 6 overs. None among Roston Chase, Nkrumah Bonner Shai Hope put up any resistance to the spin attack and got out cheaply. Ramesh Mendis was the pick among the bowlers, picking up three wickets for 23 runs from his six overs. At the end of the day, the visitors were tottering at 113/6 with Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers batting. West Indies would need to hold out the SL bowlers on Day 3 for as long as they can if they want to survive this Test match

We're comfortable & confident about Pakistan hosting Champions Trophy in 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that it is comfortable and confident on hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. "We wouldn't have awarded the event if we didn't think Pakistan was capable of hosting it. We think it is an exciting opportunity for them to be able to host a world event for the first time in a long time. I'm sure, as with all countries, they will put together appropriate security plans to deliver the event. We're comfortable and confident it will go ahead." This is the first instance after the 1996 World Cup that Pakistan will be hosting a global event. The decision from the ICC has already raised eyebrows of some and the questions have started to raise on India’s participation in the tournament. The governing body's chairman, Greg Barclay has said that it is going to be a challenging issue. "We know it's a challenging issue," Barclay said. "From my point of view, I can't control geo-political forces. I just hope cricket can be a force to help improve relations between countries. One of the great things sports can do is to help bring nations together. If we can do something in a small way to contribute to that, that's fantastic."