Australian coach Justin Langer on Tuesday hailed skipper Tim Paine as the ‘toughest pretty boy' he had ever met, going on to confirm his availability for the second Test against India in Perth.
“He is the toughest pretty boy I’ve ever met in my life,” Langer told Fox Sports as the hosts departh for Perth from Adelaide.
Paine was batting on 27, with the hosts poised at 171/6 during the first clash in Adelaide on Monday. after being handed a steep target of 323. That is when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Shami hit Paine on his right index finger with a short, fast and venomous delivery which left the batsman in no position to evade the blow. The medical team rushed to the middle almost immediately with the cricketer continuing his innings following the application of some tape.
The blow could not have proved more unfortunate in nature considering the fact that Paine had been forced to undergo severn seperate injuries at the same spot following an injury in 2010 during an exhibition clash.
However, Langer rejected any possibility of Paine being sidelined, declaring him 100 percent fit for the Perth Test.
“Even if it was snapped in about four places, he’d be still right. But he’s absolutely fine. Obviously he has had issues with it before. But he is 100 per cent ready to go.”
