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Tim Paine quits as Test captain amid sexting scandal

Tim Paine has broken his silence about the scandal that cost him the captaincy.

Tim Paine has broken his silence about the scandal that cost him the captaincy.

Tim Paine has quit as Test captain after being investigated by Cricket Australia for allegedly sending explicit messages to a female co-worker.

The veteran wicketkeeper, who has been facing a race against time to be fit for the first Ashes Test on December 8, has been named in a News Corp report as being at the centre of a sexting scandal.

Paine, 36, fronted media in Hobart in a hastily called press conference on Friday to announce he was resigning.

It is understood the messages date back to 2017, months before Paine was recalled to the Test team after a seven-year absence.

“Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague. At the time, the exchange was the subject of a thorough CA Integrity Unit investigation, throughout which I fully participated in and openly participated in,” an emotional Paine said.

“That investigation and a Cricket Tasmania HR investigation at the same time found that there had been no breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct.

“Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today.”

He said he learned only recently that the text messages were going to become public.

“On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community,” he said.

“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport. And I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective immediately.”

Paine apologised to cricket fans and the sport’s wider community, and said he had been blessed with a supportive family.

“It breaks my heart to know how much I’ve let them down,” he said.

“I will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team, and look forward with anticipation to what is a huge Ashes tour.”

Paine was elevated to the captaincy in March 2018 following the explosive fallout from the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins is Australia’s current vice-captain and had been tipped to assume the role once Paine retired.

“Tim felt it was in the best interests of his family and Australian cricket to take this decision to step down as captain,” CA chair Richard Freudenstein said.

“The board has accepted Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain.

“While the board acknowledges an investigation cleared Tim of any breach of the code of conduct regarding this matter some years ago, we respect his decision.

“CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour.

“Despite the mistake he made, Tim has been an exceptional leader since his appointment and the board thanks him for his distinguished service.”

Cricket Tasmania released a statement claiming the allegations raised against Paine were only raised when the female employee was charged with theft.

CT chairman Andrew Gaggin said no complaint was made until mid-2018, following the message exchanges in November 2017.

“As soon as Cricket Tasmania was made aware, it undertook an investigation that determined the interaction was consensual, private, occurred on the one occasion only, was between mature adults and was not repeated,” Gaggin said.

Paine has played 35 Tests for Australia, taking 150 catches behind the stumps and has a batting average of 32.63.

South Australian Alex Carey is tipped to be Australia’s next Test wicketkeeper.

-with AAP

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