One-time golden boy Tim Paine is now forever tarnished

Tim Paine’s assertion that his resignation was a way to avoid distraction for the Test team is fanciful. It will be the exact opposite, writes Sports Editor BRETT STUBBS.

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THE man who lifted Australian cricket out of the mud has sent it right back into it again.

Tim Paine, the golden boy of Tasmanian cricket, was rightly heralded far and wide for the dignified way he had led Australian cricket from the depths of Sandpaper Gate in South Africa.

When Paine led Australia to retaining the Ashes in England in 2019, he was the toast of the nation.

Then, on the cusp of another highly anticipated Ashes series in a barren Cricket Tasmania media theatrette at Blundstone Arena, devoid of any sponsors back drops – always a clear sign of bad news – Australia’s 46th Test captain admitted to the sins of the past and immediately resigned.

The fact is the lewd images and vulgar text messages he sent to a woman four years ago were unbecoming for an Australian Test captain, as Paine said so.

He accepted responsibility for the texts, once it became clear they were about to become public.

But his assertion his resignation was a way to avoid distraction for the Test team is fanciful.

It will be the exact opposite.

Every Australian player and coach put up for media will be asked about Paine’s behaviour and the impacts on the team.

“The oldest enemy”, England, is currently in the midst of a racism crisis, leaving supporters of both sides unable to take any sort of moral high ground

And if Paine found the texts unbecoming of an Australian Test captain, should Cricket Australia have also?

The governing body states it was unaware of them before appointing Paine as skipper in 2018, but did conduct its own investigation not long afterwards, in which it cleared Paine of any wrong doing.

The fallout for Paine will be long lasting.

His previously squeaky clean image has been irrevocably damaged through his own actions and could cost him millions in endorsements and future employment.

Shane Warne and Wayne Carey have ridden the scandal roller coaster yet somehow have kept on track, but they were the kings of their sport in a bygone era, with society no longer willing to accept poor behaviour from modern athletes.

Paine, who led Australia on a full circle, is unlikely to be granted such grace.

The rise and fall of Tim Paine

IN the end it wasn’t the Poms, not the Indians, nor the South Africans – it took a sexting scandal to end the exceptional Australian captaincy of golden boy Tim Paine in a humiliation that blindsided cricket fans across the world.

It was a massive fall from grace for the lad from Lauderdale, who led Australia out of another national cricket outrage ended the captaincy of Steve Smith – Sandpapergate, when some of his charges plotted to use sandpaper to rough up the ball in a ball-tampering incident against South Africa in 2018.

In the wake of that, Australian selectors turned to Paine – who was a shock Test recall for Ashes series in 2017 – to lead the country out of the integrity abyss, at a time when he struggled even to get a Sheffield Shield game for Tasmania.

In 2019, Paine did what Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Smith had all failed to do – retain the Ashes in England, becoming the first captain to do it since Steve Waugh in 2001, albeit with a 2-2 series draw, in the first drawn Ashes series since 1972.

After playing senior football for Clarence with his brother Nick, Paine made his Shield debut for Tasmania in December 2005 and quickly put his hand up as Australia’s likely next wicketkeeper with a double-century the following summer.

Tim Paine bats during the second day of the third Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG on January 4, 2020. Picture: AFP

Former Tigers coach Tim Coyle had no doubt Paine was a future star.

“He probably lacked a bit of power and presence early, but he had a really good, rounded game, was a great competitor, and understood that his game would develop over time,” Coyle said.

“That was one of the reasons why Tasmanian cricket invested pretty heavily in him at an early age. In terms of leadership, he always presented as someone with a good understanding of the game, and that’s pretty important as a young person. Tactically he was aware and he was always prepared to lead by example.”

Tim Paine’s leadership potential was recognised early in his career. Picture: AFP

In 2009, Paine played his first game for Australia when he took the gloves in an ODI against Scotland and scored an unbeaten 29 in the 189-run win.

Paine made his Test debut in 2010 alongside Smith against Pakistan at Lord’s, and kept the gloves for a tour of India.

Former Tasmanian opener and national selector Jamie Cox recalled discussions about Paine as a potential future Australian captain back then.

“I can remember going back to our time as selectors and bemoaning that we weren’t sure who the next leaders were, that the game had stopped producing them in any great quantities,” Cox said.

“The choice for leaders inside our national teams – you weren’t dealing with a deep pack, and Tim was always well considered as one of those.”

Tim Paine keeping during the third Test match against India at the SCG in January 2021. Picture: AFP

Later that year, Paine copped a Dirk Nannes delivery on the finger in an exhibition match, the beginning of a seven-year struggle with injury that ultimately cost him his place in the Tasmanian team. It paved the way for Matthew Wade to become Australian Test keeper.

In November 2017, Australian selectors dropped a bombshell by naming Paine as wicketkeeper for the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba and five months later he was Australian captain.

Soon after he was handed the Australian ODI captaincy for a series against England and then Paine captained his second home summer series with a two Tests against Pakistan and a three-Test series against New Zealand, where Australia won all five tests.

In December 2020, Paine took his 150th dismissal in his 33rd test, making him the fastest to reach this figure, eclipsing South African Quinton de Kock, who reached the milestone in 35 tests.

Paine’s captaincy ended in tears with his resignation announcement in Hobart on Friday.