Yorkshire-born Josh Inglis could play for Australia in the Ashes
Josh Inglis supported England in the Ashes four years ago, but now Yorkshire-born wicket keeper could play against them for Australia and replace former captain Tim Paine
- Josh Inglis’ family emigrated to Western Australia in 2010 when he was 14
- Yorkshire-born wicket keeper is eligible to play Test cricket for Australia
- Inglis could take over wicketkeeper spot from former captain Tim Paine
- 26-year-old has played in England with Leicestershire and London Spirit recently
- Paine resigned last week over sexually explicit texts to a female colleague
Tim Paine’s withdrawal from cricket in the aftermath of his sex texts has opened the possibility that Australia could field an Englishman behind the stumps in the upcoming Ashes.
Josh Inglis — a former Yorkshire age-group cricketer whose family emigrated to Western Australia in January 2010, six weeks shy of his 15th birthday — admitted to Sportsmail four years ago that he still supported England despite his career goal being to don the famous baggy green cap.
That opportunity could now present itself over the next few weeks as the 26-year-old is vying with Alex Carey to inherit the wicketkeeping gloves.
Josh Inglis was born in Yorkshire but his family moved to Western Australia when he was 14
The wicketkeeper has played in England for with Leicestershire and London Spirit
The Australian selectors, who yesterday confirmed Pat Cummins as Paine’s successor and the country’s 47th Test captain — in addition to sanctioning Steve Smith’s return to a leadership position in the guise of vice-captain — will promote a wicketkeeper to their squad for the first two Tests.
Although Carey is favourite to step up after four years as a white-ball international, with those close to the team suggesting any other pick would erode trust within the dressing room, the alternative within the Australia A ranks is Inglis, who has two hugely influential supporters in Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting.
A recall for Matthew Wade, 34, is viewed as unlikely despite his two Ashes hundreds in 2019.
Tim Paine announced his resignation in a statement last week in a teary press conference
In recent times, Inglis has become familiar in the UK as a successful overseas player with Leicestershire and London Spirit.
But he previously played for Yorkshire as a schoolboy up to Under 14 level, and returned temporarily from Perth in his late teens to feature as a second XI team-mate of Azeem Rafiq and current Ashes tourist Ollie Robinson when Paul Farbrace was coach.
In an interview in these pages in 2017, he admitted: ‘It’s hard to support another country if you’ve not been born there.’
A Coventry City fan — an allegiance courtesy of his father Martin, who originates from the Midlands — his all-round talents growing up in Leeds were recognised 13 years ago.
Matthew Wade scored two Ashes tons in 2019 but is unlikely to be recalled in the Test side
Tasmania’s wicket keeper Alex Carey could replace Paine behind the stumps in the Ashes
He was presented with the Year 8 sportsman of the year award at St Mary’s — a comprehensive school in the city — by rock band Kaiser Chiefs, some of whom were former pupils.
He has never missed a beat since breaking into Western Australia’s first team, averaging more than 34 with the bat in first-class matches and 30-plus in each of the other two formats. Earlier this month, he was a non-playing member of Australia’s champion World Twenty20 squad.
It suggests that regardless of selection for the Gabba on December 8 it is now a matter of when, not if Australia hand the gloves to their English Inglis.
Tim Paine’s rise and dramatic fall in sexting scandal
Australian captain Tim Paine walks to change ends during a cricket test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia on Jan. 9, 2021
2010: Tim Paine makes his Test debut against Pakistan, replacing injured Brad Haddin, but is dumped upon the incumbent’s return
April 2016: Paine marries Bonnie Maggs
November 17, 2017: Granted shock recall for Ashes series
November 22-23, 2017: Paine sends lewd messages to a female coworker on the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. The pair had exchanged texts throughout the year
January 2018: Selected for squad to tour South Africa
March 25, 2018: Appointed interim captain after Steve Smith and David Warner stood down over ‘sandpapergate’ ball tampering scandal
March 28, 2018: Paine is appointed captain for the 4th Test of the series, becoming the 46th captain of the Australian side
April 2018: Awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia
June 2018: Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania become aware of the messages and launch an investigation, following a complaint from the woman. Paine claims he was exonerated during the investigation. His wife Bonnie was aware of the messages but chose to stick by him
2018 – 2021: Paine continues as Test captain, retaining the Ashes in England in 2019
November 19, 2021: Paine steps down as full details of the explicit messages surface
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