AFP, Sydney :
Tim Paine abruptly quit as Australian Test cricket captain Friday over an explicit “private text exchange” with a female colleague-a bombshell announcement just weeks before the Ashes series begins against arch-rivals England.
“Today, I’m announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men’s Test team,” said an emotional Paine, failing to hold back tears as he recounted a years-old scandal which is only now coming to light.
“Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague,” Paine, 36, said, referring to what Australian media reported to be a series of sexually graphic exchanges with a female co-worker.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
While Paine said he would be stepping down from a role that was the “greatest privilege” of his life, he insisted he still plans to play in the upcoming series against England.
“I will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team and look forward with anticipation to what is a huge Ashes tour,” he said.
The Tasmanian batsman-wicketkeeper took over the Test captaincy in 2018 in the wake of the Sandpaper-gate ball tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket.
