17th March 2023 – (Sydney) Australian cricket star Tim Paine, who formerly captained the national test team, concluded his illustrious career on Friday, marking the end of an era in Australian cricket. The 38-year-old wicketkeeper played a total of 35 tests for the national team, including 23 as captain, following Steve Smith’s removal from the role due to a ball-tampering scandal during the team’s tour of South Africa in 2018.
Paine resigned from his post as test captain in November 2021 after reports surfaced that he had been investigated in 2018 for sending inappropriate text messages to a former female receptionist at Cricket Tasmania, the governing body for cricket in the state of Tasmania. Following his resignation, he took a year-long break from the sport to focus on his mental health before returning to play domestic cricket.
Paine’s final match was a Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at the Bellerive Oval, which ended in a draw. He was given a guard of honour as he left the field, and Tasmania captain Jordan Silk confirmed that Paine had officially retired from first-class cricket. Silk praised Paine’s contributions to the sport, stating that he had been a phenomenal player with exceptional longevity and that his presence behind the stumps would be sorely missed.
Many in the cricket community have lauded Paine’s contributions to the sport, acknowledging his skill as a wicketkeeper and his significant impact on the Australian team during his tenure as captain. While his retirement marks the end of an era, Paine’s legacy as a highly respected and accomplished cricketer is sure to endure for many years to come.