Former Australia skipper Tim Paine on Friday announced his retirement after winding up Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield first-class match vs Queensland. Paine led the Australia team in 23 Test matches between 2018 and 2021 and has played a total of 35 Tests. After Steve Smith was involved in a ball-tampering saga in 2018, Paine became the 46th Test captain.
Paine stepped down as the skipper in 2021 after he was caught sending explicit text messages to a former Cricket Tasmania employee.
“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,” he said.
Tim Paine's wife Bon Paine also commented on the incident while talking to The Sunday Telegraph, and Sunday Herald Sun and said, “I have a bit of sympathy for Tim at the moment. A lot actually. He and I went through all of this privately in 2018. It was horrific then".
“I feel a bit frustrated that it’s all been brought up and aired in the public when we’d put it to bed years ago. I have moved forward since then. I feel like there is a lot of injustice for it being dragged out again,” Ms. Paine told the paper.
Back in 2010 at Lord’s, Paine made his Test debut against Pakistan. He batted with a Test average of 32.63 and has a top score of 92 in his kitty. Behind the stumps, he has made 157 dismissals. He also took part in 35 one-day internationals for Australia.
The Hobart-based player represented Tasmania for over 18 years after making his debut way back in 2005, featuring in 153 first-class matches. “He has been a phenomenal player, it is an incredible effort to have the longevity that he has had,” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk stated.
“I’m sure a lot of guys will say there has never been as good a keeper as Tim Paine in Australia.”