Tim Paine quits as Australia’s Test captain ahead of Ashes
Tim Paine (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia Test captain Tim Paine has stood down from the role after being embroiled in a ‘se*ting’ incident with a former Tasmania co-worker in 2017. In a press conference in Hobart, Paine conveyed to Cricket Australia (CA) that he will resign as skipper with immediate effect on Friday (November 19). The shocking decision from the wicketkeeper batter has come just three weeks before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on December 8.
Paine, who was promoted to lead the Australia side in 2018 following the sandpaper saga, has now coincidently quit from the role following another shocking scandal. CA chairman Richard Freudenstein has said that Paine thought this was the best decision considering the young family that he has got. The board has accepted the wicketkeeper batter’s resignation and have now begun the process to identify the new captain for the Test side.
“Tim felt it was in the best interests of his family and Australian cricket to take this decision to step down as captain. 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,” Freudenstein said to Fox Cricket.
Paine broke down while announcing his decision to the media and has accepted to have been involved in the se*ting scandal in 2017. The 36-year-old has said he will remain part of the team.
“Today I am announcing my decision to stand down as captain of the Australian men’s cricket team. It’s a difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket.
“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. 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.
Pat Cummins who is the incumbent Test vice-captain is the likely candidate to lead the Australia side. Uncapped wicketkeeper batters Josh Inglis and Alex Carey will likely don the gloves in case Paine misses the Gabba Test.
