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Paine continues to rise

By Kim Hagdorn
7 February 2013 04:24PM EST

ONE-TIME borderline full-time national wicketkeeper Tim Paine continues his climb back into favour with inclusion in Australia A team.

Paine, 28, missed more than a year with a serious finger injury at a time he was establishing his standing in Australian cricket as a potential permanent Test and limited-overs starter.

His absence allowed fellow Tasmania and adoopted Victorian Matthew Wade take over behind the stumps from veteran Brad Haddin.

Paine continues his rebirth with inclusion in a squad to be led by big-hitting opener Aaron Finch in five limited-overs games against an England Lions touring squad.

Australia A squad is: Aaron Finch (Captain), Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Callum Ferguson, Adam Voges, John Hastings, Ben Cutting, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Boyce.

The re-rising of powerful one-day batting star Shaun Marsh continues also with the left-hander included in the squad alongside his rapidly emerging Western Australian teammate Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Coulter-Nile, 25, is widely considered an Australian top team limited-overs all-rounder contender.

The powerfully-built all-rounder celebrated his selection with a career-best six-wicket (6-84) haul in Queensland's second innings in Brisbane as Coulter-Nile led his state Western Australia to a stirring Sheffield Shield come-from-behind victory.

Highly regarded New South Wales paceman Josh Hazlewood is also back onto the brink of more international duties after a lengthy injury layoff.

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