Cricket Australia has admitted they should have dumped Tim Paine as Test captain after he opened up about his sexting scandal in 2018.
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, CA chairman Richard Freudenstein conceded the current board and chief executive were ‘not across all the details of the investigation’ three years ago.
He also said the current board would have pushed for a different skipper.
‘I can’t talk about the 2018 decision, I wasn’t there,’ Freudenstein said.
‘But I am saying based on the facts as they are today, the board of Cricket Australia would not have made that decision.
Cricket Australia has admitted they should have dumped Tim Paine as Test captain after he opened up about his sexting scandal in 2018
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
‘I acknowledge the decision clearly sent the wrong message that this behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences.
‘The role of Australian cricket captain must be held to the highest standards.’
Freudenstein went on to add that ‘Tim admits he made a mistake in 2017 and since then his behavior as a leader and cricket (performances) have been great.’
With Paine’s Test career in tatters, Alex Carey will be his likely replacement behind the stumps, with CA stating they have ‘accelerated the process’ of announcing the wicketkeeper’s successor for the Ashes and beyond.
CA also pointed out they have since undertaken a ‘full review’ when it comes to sexual harassment education.
Saturday’s development follows The Australian Cricketers’ Association leaping to the defence of Paine 24 hours earlier, adamant he should have stayed in his coveted role.
In a statement, the ACA said they were ‘saddened’ that Paine, a father of two, felt the need to resign as captain of the Australian Test team.
‘While regrettable, this was a 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,’ the statement read.
‘Tim humbly recognised the respect that comes with the Australian captaincy and his resignation reflects the esteem in which he held the role he served so well in a trying period for Australian cricket.’
The statement went on to outline Paine played ‘a crucial role in restoring pride back in the Australian team’ following his 2018 appointment and despite his mistake, he has ‘the full and unequivocal support of the ACA’.
On Friday, Paine relinquished the Test captaincy after details of his lewd behaviour publicly emerged.
Paine, 36, sent a photo of his penis to a female co-worker along with a stream of lewd text messages on November 22 and 23 in 2017 – the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
It was Paine’s return to the Test arena after a seven year wait.
Australia test cricket captain Tim Paine, 36, sent a series of raunchy texts to a female Cricket Tasmania colleague
While news broke of the scandal on Friday, Paine said he and his wife worked through the betrayal at the time and that she’d forgiven and supported him
‘Will you want to taste my d**?? F**k me, I’m seriously hard,’ one of the messages Paine sent to the Cricket Tasmania employee read.
Months later, Paine was ushered in as the leader of Australian cricket in 2018 after captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were suspended for 12 months, along with opener Cameron Bancroft, who was sidelined for nine months.
The trio was caught on camera using concealed sandpaper to rough up the ball during the tour of South Africa.
Cricket Australia is believed to have found out about Paine’s sexting in June 2018 and launched an investigation, along with Cricket Tasmania.
The woman complained in 2018 about ‘Mr Paine’s sexually explicit, unwelcome and unsolicited photograph of his genitals in addition to the graphic sexual comments’.
She is said to have been taken aback by the comments and pornographic photo, which she found offensive.
Paine was brought it as the saviour of Australian cricket after captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were suspended, along with opener Cameron Bancroft
Tim Paine’s wife Bonnie (pictured) has chosen to stand by her husband, whose career is in tatters
Paine acknowledged on Friday his conduct was unacceptable.
‘Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today,’ he said.
‘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.
‘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.’
Tim Paine’s rise and dramatic fall in sexting scandal
Australian captain Tim Paine walks to change ends during a cricket test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia on Jan. 9, 2021
2010: Tim Paine makes his Test debut against Pakistan, replacing injured Brad Haddin, but is dumped upon the incumbent’s return
April 2016: Paine marries Bonnie Maggs
November 17, 2017: Granted shock recall for Ashes series
November 22-23, 2017: Paine sends lewd messages to a female coworker on the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. The pair had exchanged texts throughout the year
January 2018: Selected for squad to tour South Africa
March 25, 2018: Appointed interim captain after Steve Smith and David Warner stood down over ‘sandpapergate’ ball tampering scandal
March 28, 2018: Paine is appointed captain for the 4th Test of the series, becoming the 46th captain of the Australian side
April 2018: Awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia
June 2018: Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania become aware of the messages and launch an investigation, following a complaint from the woman. Paine claims he was exonerated during the investigation. His wife Bonnie was aware of the messages but chose to stick by him
2018 – 2021: Paine continues as Test captain, retaining the Ashes in England in 2019
November 19, 2021: Paine steps down as full details of the explicit messages surface
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