BREAKING: Back in the BBL? Hurricanes send SOS to Tim Paine following Matthew Wade’s bizarre suspension

The Hobart Hurricanes have drafted Tim Paine into their 15-man squad for their Christmas Eve Big Bash League game against the Melbourne Renegades, after captain Matthew Wade received a shock suspension.

Cricket Australia released a statement in the hours before the game that Wade had received a one-match ban for incurring a third Level One Code of Conduct breach during the Hurricanes’ recent loss to the Sixers.

The captain uttered an audible obscenity during the match, also kicking his bat after being dismissed.

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“Hobart Hurricanes player Matthew Wade has been suspended for one KFC Big Bash League match,” a CA statement released on Saturday afternoon reads.

“Wade received one suspension point after incurring three Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches within 18 months. The charges in that period relate to two instances of use of an audible obscenity and one instance of abuse of cricket equipment.

“Wade is suspended from today’s KFC BBL12 match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena, Hobart.”

Matthew Wade and Tim Paine of the Hurricanes. (Photo by Will Russell – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Paine has not played a T20 match since appearing for the Hurricanes in the BBL07 final loss to the Strikers in February 2018.

Having stepped away from professional cricket following his resignation as Test captain in the wake of his texting scandal 12 months ago, Paine’s career appeared done when he wasn’t offered a Tasmania contract for the 2022/23 summer.

However, the wicketkeeper made his Sheffield Shield return earlier this month as a COVID substitute for Jake Doran, who tested positive mid-match.

Highly regarded as one of Australia’s best glovemen, and with experience opening the batting in T20 cricket, Paine looms as a straight swap for Wade at the top of the Hurricanes’ order should he be selected.

However, with Ben McDermott in the team and also able to keep and open the batting, having started the season at first drop behind Wade and D’Arcy Short, Paine isn’t guaranteed a return game.

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