Ashes 2021: Selection chairman George Bailey will 'recuse' himself on Tim Paine decision

George Bailey has said that he will step aside for making a decision about whether Tim Paine will be included in the Australia squad or not. Paine and Bailey are close friends and business partners.

Cricket Australia (CA) selection committee chairman George Bailey has said he would recuse himself from the vote, if any, on embattled cricketer Tim Paine's selection in the side for the upcoming Ashes series, and would leave the decision on fellow selectors Justin Langer and Tony Dodemaide.

Paine, who was skipper of the Australian Test side since 2018, voluntarily relinquished captaincy recently following an off-field scandal, where he sent text messages to a former Cricket Tasmania staffer in 2017.

Paine has, however, said he is up for selection in the side for the Ashes beginning December 8 and is currently playing for Tasmania Second XI against South Australia at the Lindisfarne Oval in Hobart to test his fitness ahead of the five-Test home series against England.