Paine named in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield squad

Tim Paine is in line to play his first first-class match for more than 18 months after being named in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield squad to face Queensland this week.

Paine last played for Tasmania in early 2021 but returned to club cricket at the weekend where he took the keeping gloves and made an unbeaten 20.

"Was nice to blow off some cobwebs," he told reporters at Hobart airport. "Been training for five or six weeks. Ready to go. Excited, a bit nervous, but looking forward to it."

Paine did not find a place on the Tasmania contract list earlier this year but approached the state's coaching staff about being keen to return.

"It was nice for him to get out there and play a game of cricket again," Tasmania's coach Jeff Vaughan told reporters on Tuesday. "He was quite nervous before that match."

"He has been training with us the last couple of months. And it wasn't until we selected over the last week or two, firstly his name was on the table for one-day cricket and then he was on the table last week when we selected [the Shield]. And it was quite unanimous that everyone wanted one of the world's best wicketkeepers into our side.

"We have absolute faith and trust in Tim and his preparation. Physically he is probably in the greatest spot of his physical career, emotionally he is sound. He has been training really well with us the last two months. We have got full faith in his wicketkeeping skillset so he has ticked all of the boxes."

Paine resigned the Test captaincy amid a text-message scandal last November and a short while after that said he was taking a break from the game for his mental health.

Tasmania squad Jackson Bird, Jake Doran, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk (c), Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster