What happened to Tim Paine: Will Tim Paine recover on time to captain Australia in Ashes 2021-22?

What happened to Tim Paine: The Australian Test captain is all set to undergo a neck surgery in Hobart on Tuesday.

Australia Test captain Tim Paine is all set to undergo a neck surgery which has put in participation for Tasmania in the opening rounds of Sheffield Shield 2021-22 in doubt.

Last seen in action in the previous season of Sheffield Shield in April this year, Paine will be operated upon in Hobart tomorrow to ensure that a pinched nerve in his neck doesn’t bother him during the international summer scheduled to commence in the last week of November.

Having last played international cricket during the historic Brisbane Test against India in January this year, Paine’s next international assignment will be leading Australia in their first-ever Test against Afghanistan provided that it goes ahead as originally planned.

Will Tim Paine recover on time to captain Australia in Ashes 2021-22?

Paine, who has issued an official statement to quash speculations with respect to his injury, has expressed confidence in restarting physical activity by the “end of his month”. Paine further mentioned that he expects to resume “full training in October” and should regain full fitness before the international summer.

“The consensus of the spinal surgeon and the CA medical team was to have the surgery now which will allow plenty of time to fully prepare for the summer. I expect to be able to restart physical activity by the end of this month and be back in full training in October.

“I will be ready to go by the first Test and am very much looking forward to what will be a huge summer,” Paine said in a statement.

Assuming that the 36-year old Paine’s expectations regarding his recovery hold true, he should be seen leading Australia against Afghanistan for the first time at his home ground, i.e., Blundstone Arena, Hobart.