BANBURY Cricket Club have been dealt a big blow after Tim Paine earned a surprise call-up for Australia in next week’s first Ashes Test.

The 32-year-old Tasmanian wicket-keeper batsman, who played for Banbury in the Home Counties Premier League in 2015 was due to return to the club next summer.

But that move is off, with league rules stating no overseas player can have featured in international cricket in the previous 18 months.

So while his inclusion in the Australia side to face England at the Gabba on November 23 was greeted with much delight at the north Oxfordshire club, it also leaves them with a headache.

Club chairman Martin Phillips said: “Tim was a great success in 2015.

“Not only did he score five centuries, he went out of his way to to coach the young wicket-keepers in the club.”

While in England he proposed to a his girlfriend Bonnie.

“They have since married and had a daughter and Tim wanted to return with his family to England next summer,” added Phillips, who is also the league chairman.

“Several of our team are are still in touch with Tim.”

Looking ahead to the Ashes, Phillips said: “The ideal scenario is for Tim to score 100 and take five catches in an innings defeat for Australia.”