Who will replace Tim Paine as Australian Test cricket captain? Tasmanian Tigers star resigns weeks before first Ashes Test over sexually explicit text messages behind wife’s back
Tim Paine has stepped down as Australia test cricket captain over a historical investigation into texts sent to a female colleague.
The 36-year-old's announcement comes just three weeks before their first Ashes Test in Brisbane, leaving Australia’s preparations in disarray.
Paine, who has been married to his wife Bonnie since 2016, stepped down as captain 19 days before facing England on his home turf.
He resigns after 23 Tests as captain, with 11 wins, eight losses, and four draws, while in 2019, he became the first Australian men’s captain to retain the Ashes in England since Steve Waugh in 2001.
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Who will replace Tim Paine as Australian Test cricket captain?
Vice-captain Pat Cummins will be expected to take the captaincy ahead of the five-test Ashes series.
However Australia usually trust batsmen to lead them out instead of bowlers which could see Steve Smith take back the reigns.
Paine took over from Smith in the wake of the Cape Town ball tampering scandal but the latter is free to captain again after a two-year leadership ban.
Marnus Labuschagne remains an outside possibility after being touted as a future captain but the opportunity may come too quick for the 27-year-old.
Why did Tim Paine resign?
Paine stepped down from his role after revelations he had been investigated over sexually explicit text messages sent to a female former colleague.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who broke down in tears whilst reading his statement, said he was cleared by a Cricket Australia Integrity Unit investigation but his actions did not meet the standards of an Australian cricket captain or the wider community.
It has been reported that Paine sent lewd messages and an explicit photo to a colleague four months before he was appointed Test captain in 2018.
Who is Tim Paine's wife?
The cricketer married Bonnie in 2016.
She is a singer, registered nurse, Studio HQ ambassador and was part of the 2006 musical ensemble Elephant Rivals.
The couple have two children together - daughter Milla and son Charlie.
What has been said?
“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party,” said Paine.
“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.
“I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes series.”
“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,” added Paine.
“However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public.”
