Paine last played a first-class match in early 2021 but returned to club cricket at the weekend where he took the keeping gloves and made an unbeaten 20.

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

He 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.

"That one sort of popped up from nowhere to be honest. He came and spoke to the CEO and myself one day and said he'd like to come back and he's certainly going to play cricket for University," Tasmania head coach Justin Vaughan told ESPNcricinfo.

"So he's been training with us most sessions the last five or six weeks. Physically [he's] going well, emotionally going well. I'm sure everyone would agree that we trust his wicketkeeping skill set, his leadership skill set."

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