Australia Test skipper Tim Paine has stepped down as the captain of the side ahead of the much-awaited Ashes opener.
England and Australia will lock horns in the five-match Ashes, beginning December 8 at the Gabba, Brisbane. Cricket Australia on Friday informed about Paine’s decision to leave captaincy “immediately”.
“Tim Paine has advised the Board of Cricket Australia of his decision to stand down as captain of the Australian men’s Test team, effective immediately,” Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement.
Cricket Australia said the Board has accepted Paine’s resignation and will now accelerate the process of identifying and appointing a new Test captain.
“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 in a statement.
“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,” the statement concluded.
“Today, I announced my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men’s test team. It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,” cricket.com.au quoted Paine as saying.
“As background on my decision, 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 added.
The former Australia Test skipper “deeply regretted” the incident and said he was “enormously” grateful to his wife and family for the forgiveness.
“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,” said Paine.
“I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support. We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years,” the wicket-keeper batter further said.
“However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community.
“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,” he added.
England and Australia will lock horns in the five-match Ashes, beginning December 8 at the Gabba, Brisbane. Paine remains “committed” to play for Australia in the upcoming Ashes.
“And I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective immediately. I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes Series,” said Paine.
“I will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team and look forward with anticipation to what is a huge Ashes tour,” he added.
Meanwhile, Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) on Friday expressed disappointment after Paine stepped down from captaincy. “While regrettable, this was an historical mistake that was a private matter between consenting individuals. Tim fully cooperated in an integrity investigation by Cricket Australia in 2018 in which he was exonerated,” it added.
ACA said Paine’s captaincy played a huge role in restoring pride back in the Australian team and backed the wicket-keeper batter with “unequivocal” support.