British-born Josh Inglis could play for Australia in the Ashes and replace Tim Paine as wicketkeeper
Josh Inglis supported England in the Ashes four years ago, but now the Yorkshire-born wicketkeeper could play against them for Australia and replace former captain Tim Paine
Tim Paine’s withdrawal from cricket in the wake of his sex lyrics has opened up the possibility that Australia could put an Englishman behind stumps in the Ashes to come.
Josh Inglis – a former Yorkshire-age cricketer whose family emigrated to Western Australia in January 2010, six weeks before his 15th birthday – admitted he sports post four years since he still supported England despite his career goal being to don the famous baggy green cap.
That opportunity could present itself in the coming weeks as the 26-year-old vie with Alex Carey to inherit the wicketkeeping gloves.
Josh Inglis was born in Yorkshire, but his family moved to Western Australia at the age of 14
The wicketkeeper played in England for with Leicestershire and London Spirit
The Australian selectors, who yesterday confirmed Pat Cummins as Paine’s successor and the country’s 47th test captain – in addition to Steve Smith’s return to leadership in the guise of vice-captain – will add a wicketkeeper to their squad for the first two tests .
While Carey is favorite to perform after four years as an international with a cue ball, and those close to the team suggest any other choice would erode confidence in the dressing room, the alternative within Australia’s A-ranks is Inglis , those two hugely influential supporters in Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting.
A recall for Matthew Wade, 34, is considered unlikely despite his two Ashes hundreds in 2019.
Tim Paine announced his resignation last week in a statement during a tearful press conference
In recent times, Inglis has become known in the UK as a successful overseas player with Leicestershire and London Spirit.
But he previously played for Yorkshire as a schoolboy down to the under-14 level, temporarily returning from Perth in his late teens to play as the second eleventh team-mate of Azeem Rafiq and current Ashes tourist Ollie Robinson when Paul Farbrace was coach.
In an interview on these pages in 2017, he admitted, “It’s hard to support another country if you weren’t born there.”
A fan of Coventry City – a loyal one courtesy of his father Martin, who hails from the Midlands – his all-round talents growing up in Leeds were recognized 13 years ago.
Matthew Wade scored two tons of ash in 2019 but unlikely to be recalled on the test side
Tasmania’s wicket-keeper Alex Carey could replace Paine behind stumps in the Ashes
He received the Sportsman of the Year award in Year 8 at St Mary’s – a comprehensive school in the city – by rock band Kaiser Chiefs, some of whom were former pupils.
He has never missed a stroke since breaking through to the Western Australia first team, averaging over 34 with the bat in first-class matches and over 30 in each of the other two formats. Earlier this month, he was a non-playing member of the Australian champion’s World Twenty20 squad.
It suggests that regardless of the selection for the Gabba on December 8, it is now a matter of when, not if Australia hands the gloves to their England Inglis.
Tim Paine’s Rise and Dramatic Fall in Sexting Scandal
Australian captain Tim Paine walks to change ends during a cricket test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia on January 9, 2021
2010: Tim Paine makes his test debut against Pakistan, replacing the injured Brad Haddin, but is dumped upon the return of the incumbent
April 2016: Paine marries Bonnie Maggs
November 17, 2017: Admitted Shock Reminder for Ashes Series
November 22-23, 2017: Paine sends obscene messages to a female colleague on the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. The couple had exchanged texts throughout the year
January 2018: Selected for squadron to tour South Africa
March 25, 2018: Appointed interim captain after Steve Smith and David Warner resigned over ‘sandpapergate’ scandal involving balls
March 28, 2018: Paine is named captain for the 4th Test of the series, becoming the Australian side’s 46th captain
April 2018: Awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia
June 2018: Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania become aware of the reports and launch an investigation into a complaint from the woman. Paine claims he was acquitted during the investigation. His wife Bonnie was aware of the messages but chose to stay with him
2018 – 2021: Paine continues as test captain and retains the Ashes in England in 2019
November 19, 2021: Paine resigns as full details of the explicit posts surface
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