Tim Paine’s post-playing coaching career continues to gather speed. Cricket Australia confirmed on Thursday that the former Test captain will take charge of Australia A for all three of their upcoming assignments – Sri Lanka in Darwin, a multi-format trip to India, and a one-off four-day match against the England Lions later in the year.
In brief
• Paine will oversee three 50-over games and two four-dayers against Sri Lanka A in July.
• He then heads to India in September–October for white- and red-ball fixtures, before a likely late-October clash with the Lions.
• Adam Griffith, Scott Prestwidge and Trent Keep join him for the Darwin leg; Griffith doubles as interim men’s Test bowling coach in the Caribbean.
• James Franklin and Matthew Wade link up with the senior side for the West Indies tour.
• Uncontracted Queensland spinner Zanden Jeh called into the Australia A squad.
Why Paine?
The 39-year-old has impressed in short stints with Western Australia, the Prime Minister’s XI and, more recently, the Adelaide Strikers. Those inside CA talk about his calm manner and forensic eye for detail – traits that were evident during his Test tenure. The Australia A role is officially “consultancy”, allowing him to keep his Big Bash commitments while dipping in and out of the national pathway.
Missing faces, new faces
Daniel Vettori’s family commitments mean he misses the entire West Indies tour. Adam Griffith steps up for the first two Tests before returning home for A-duty. Former New Zealand left-armer James Franklin fills the bowling-coach vacancy for the third Test and five T20Is, marking his first involvement with Australia’s set-up.
Matthew Wade, who dabbled as a consultant during last summer’s Pakistan series, is back as a T20I assistant. Wade’s input, especially around death-overs batting, has been well-received by younger squad members.
Jeh’s left-arm option
Selectors have scoured state rosters for a slow left-armer and landed on 21-year-old Zanden Jeh from Queensland Premier cricket. He has just four second-XI appearances and no first-class match to his name, yet a five-for against ACT in March was enough to push him ahead of more familiar names. With Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli chasing county contracts, Jeh represents a low-risk look at a scarce skill set.
Jeh also travels to the MRF Academy in Chennai in early August as part of a 12-player development group that includes Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Ollie Peake and Campbell Kellaway.
What it means
Paine’s appointment provides continuity for Australia A after Lachlan Stevens’ quiet exit from the national development role. Three series in three different conditions – Darwin’s dry heat, India’s spin-friendly pitches, an English county ground in spring – offer a neat snapshot of fringe talent ahead of next year’s World Test Championship cycle.
The senior men’s side, meanwhile, must juggle workloads. Griffith will hop between hemispheres, and Franklin’s short-term deal hints at CA’s willingness to borrow expertise when gaps present themselves. Wade’s involvement continues a trend of recently retired players easing into coaching without formal titles.
Looking further ahead
CA sources say Paine remains on the radar for higher honours should a vacancy arise on the full national staff. For now, the governing body is happy to spread responsibilities rather than lock coaches into year-round travel – a nod to lessons learnt during the pandemic.
Squads for the Sri Lanka A matches, including Jeh’s debut at this level, are due next week. Tickets in Darwin have been priced modestly, and local organisers expect healthy walk-up crowds, especially for the day-night four-day fixture under the new lights at Marrara.
In a year short on home cricket until summer, the Australia A programme suddenly carries a bit of weight – not headline-grabbing, but important all the same.
