Reuters: Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine ended his cricket career yesterday after Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland ended in a draw at the Bellerive Oval. Wicketkeeper Paine played 35 tests for Australia, including 23 as skipper after Steve Smith was stripped of the role following a ball-tampering scandal during the team’s 2018 tour of South Africa. Paine quit the test captaincy in November 2021 following revelations that he w
as investigated in 2018 for sending lewd text messages to a female former receptionist at state governing body Cricket Tasmania.
He subsequently withdrew from the game and took a mental health break for nearly a year before returning to play domestic cricket. The 38-year-old, who also played 35 One-Day Internationals, was given a guard of honour as he left Bellerive Oval and Tasmania captain Jordan Silk confirmed Paine had ended his first-class career.
“He’s been a phenomenal player,” Silk said. “It’s an incredible effort to have the longevity that he’s had. He’s certainly going to be missed behind the stumps. “I’m sure a lot of guys who are playing now will say that there will never be another keeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia. So we’ve been incredibly blessed down here.”