Tim Paine is OUT of first Ashes Test as he takes leave from all forms of cricket after resigning as captain over sexually explicit texts
Tim Paine is taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket ‘for the foreseeable future’.
Paine stood down as Australia’s men’s Test captain last week after revelations of a sexting scandal in 2017.
Australia teammates wanted the veteran wicketkeeper to play the first Test at the Gabba, but Cricket Tasmania says Paine will miss Friday’s one-dayer and take a break from playing.
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Tim Paine is taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket ‘for the foreseeable future’
The married father of two (pictured with wife Bonnie) sent a female staffer from Cricket Tasmania a number of suggestive texts as well as a unsolicited image
Paine, 36, confirmed he would no longer lead the team ahead of the Ashes in a press conference last Friday after a sexting scandal from 2017 was made public.
An emotional Paine said his decision to stand down was ‘incredibly difficult’ – but was the ‘right one for me, my family and cricket’.
‘Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague,’ Paine said.
‘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.
‘Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today. I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support.’
Australia test cricket captain Tim Paine, 36, sent a series of raunchy texts to a female Cricket Tasmania colleague
Paine, a father of two, went onto add he was recently made aware his lewd conduct was about to made public and that his actions were unacceptable in his coveted role as the Test captain of Australia.
‘I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party,’ he said.
‘I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport. I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes series.
‘I have loved my role as captain of the Australian cricket team. It’s been the greatest privilege of my sporting life to lead the Australian men’s test team. I’m grateful for the support of my teammates and proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together.’
Paine also asked for ‘understanding and forgiveness’ from his teammates before also apologising to cricket fans across the nation.
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