Watch: Former Australia captain Tim Paine tok a blinding catch to dismiss Cameron Bancroft in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield game against Western Australia.
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In a dismissal involving three Australian Test cricketers, Cameron Bancroft played a loose drive as he reached for a wide half volley from Jackson Bird. The ball moved away, and accordingly Paine anticipated moving to his right, but it hit Bancroft’s inside edge, forcing the keeper into a Gordon Banks-esque reaction grab as he changed direction and caught the ball one-handed low to his left.
The commentary team praised Paine’s “amazing reflexes” in an “outstanding bit of work” that dismissed the former Australia opener for one.
Despite an excellent start for Tasmania, Western Australia ended the day slightly on top after a hundred from Josh Inglis took them to 300 all out. The visitors’ reply started poorly as they lost Caleb Jewell and ended the day 5-1.
Paine, who has not played for Australia since resigning the Test captaincy ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes, has maintained his reputation as a world-class wicketkeeper this winter with 19 Shield dismissals in just five games. Only two keepers have bettered him, and both have played three more games.
The 38-year-old dismissed two other international players in Western Australia’s innings, catching Inglis off Bird and Joel Paris off Peter Siddle.
Watch Tim Paine take a sensational diving catch to dismiss Cameron Bancroft:
Wow, Tim Paine, sensational catch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/muu7Ekvple
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 21, 2023
