When it comes to batsmen, there are the average players and then, there are the truly great batsmen Your quality of bowling as a bowler would determine the category which you fall under. However, if there is one man who has surely paid his dues, it would have to be Tom Paine. He has been ever-present for his country and it is only proper that he captains them when it comes to all things Tests. Today, we would be considering who he is and what he has achieved throughout his career. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Who is Tom Paine?

Aged 34, it is fair to say that Tom Paine has had his own share of games playing cricket. He has had quite the career and continues to be relevant for all his teams. Currently as earlier stated, he is the captain of the Australian team and is also a player for the Tasmanian Tigers who are based in Australia. Tom is known for his ability to play as a batsman and also double as a wicketkeeper which is simply fantastic.

The career of Tom can be traced all the way back to the Australian cricket academy where he is widely regarded as one of the youngest players to ever grace the world of cricket and get a contract. This happened after his first contract was confirmed when he was just barely 16 years. That was a truly outstanding achievement. In 2005, he finally made his debut for Tasmania in the one-day series. In that same year, he stole the limelight after recording a century at least twice. He has also had something for the captain armband as he has also been captain to the under 19 sides for Australia. He led them to the world cup in 2004. Their stay in the competition lasted up to the final where they lost to the host nation Bangladesh.

Playing style

Paine adopts two different styles when he is playing as a wicket-keeper or as a batsman. When he is a batsman, he likes to play with a straight bat which is weird for a player who is right-handed. He is also known and popular for playing a very patient game when he is batting.

If he is playing as a wicketkeeper, you would normally see him making some fantastic footwork which is as old as the game. This footwork allows him to readjust and take catches to help his team win. He attempts these catches instead of taking dives which might be risky at the end of the day.

Conclusion

From a little kid who was breaking the record with his first contract worth $10000 with Tasmania to an established captain for his national side, we have truly seen the best of Tom Paine. It is only right that we keep on admiring what he has achieved. He is currently involved for his national side against Ben Strokes’ England and that is a truly fascinating game to watch.