'Get a clue, idiots': Shield great hits out at Paine critics

Former Sheffield Shield wicketkeeper Darren Berry has hit out at critics of Australian gloveman Tim Paine following a dropped catch before tea on day one at the Gabba.

Paine failed to grasp a James Vince nick off the bowling of Nathan Lyon just before tea on Thursday, the Kookaburra bouncing hard off his palm.

Vince was on 68 at the time and would be run out by Lyon for 83 less than 10 overs later.

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While the damage was limited thanks to the off-spinner's superb fielding, Berry believed Paine -- called up to replace Matthew Wade due to his superior glovework -- did not deserve criticism.

"Get off @tdpaine36 back get a clue idiots," Berry wrote.

"Deflections from off spinners are the hardest catches to take off RH bats given the spin direction. #toughchance."

Paceman Pat Cummins said Paine would be disappointed but moving on quickly.

"Keeping up to the stumps, it's pretty hard," he said.

"It's a case of the ball either sticks or it doesn't. Hearing him speak to (Brad Haddin), he said he was in the perfect position.

"Just one of the ones that bounced a little bit and didn't stick."

Paine otherwise performed well in his first Test match since 2010.

"I thought he was outstanding today," Cummins added.

"He was really clean and crisp. Great energy. I thought he would've been nervous, he hasn't played (Test cricket) for a long time but he didn't look it out there."

Lyon, meanwhile, finished with 0-40 from 24 overs but consistently challenged England captain Joe Root and other batsmen on what selector Mark Waugh termed the flattest day-one Gabba deck he'd seen.

Despite the off-spinner's wicketless start, Cummins wants pre-Test niggle to become part of Lyon's routine.

"I just said to him, he should say stuff before every game the way he bowled today. He was loving it," Cummins said.

"He's one of those guys who loves getting into the contest. He loves backing up his teammates.

"He's one of the world's best spinners at the moment, if not the best.

"He bowled absolutely beautifully today. I don't know how he doesn't have six-for, let alone one-for."

Highlighting the fact that Root was dropped on his most recent tour of Australia was one of many verbals that Lyon launched this week -- most of which featured some reference to the 5-0 series win that unfolded four years ago.

Root responded with a light-hearted dig at his former teammate from a brief grade-cricket stint in South Australia, quipping "at the time, we weren't sure who was the first spinner".

with AAP