ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
NO PAYNE NO GAIN
For a brief, confusing window in sporting history, Tim Paine, the former Australian cricket captain was once the bigger name.
Paine held the role for a couple of steady years and was a big name in Australia and in international cricket. He then exited abruptly after a sexting scandal that turned his tenure from “rebuild era” to “don’t Google that era.”
On the other is Tim Payne, the All Whites footballer who has quietly gone from reliable squad member to global football oddity, now sitting on nearly six million Instagram followers and a World Cup berth with the New Zealand national football team.
It’s a reversal nobody scripted. For years, Paine was the internationally recognised “Tim”—the cricket captain, the headline name, the one people could vaguely place. Payne was the other one. The football one, but one many had not heard of.
Then the algorithm got involved. A couple of viral clips. A few tournament moments. Now he’s the Tim.
Locals were asked for comment.
“I don’t really follow cricket,” said one Christchurch man. “But I definitely know Tim Payne. He’s the guy who plays for the All Whites, the global superstar. Good engine, gets up and down the wing.”
When informed there was also a Tim Paine in the sporting world, he paused.
“Is that the fella who coaches… or like… used to play rugby for Australia? Surely there can’t be.”
Another Kiwi was more direct.
“I’ve got no idea who Tim Paine is,” she said. “But Tim Payne? He’s always been the bigger Tim..”
More to come.
