Paine taking ‘indefinite mental health break’ from cricket

The former Australia test cricket captain Tim Paine is taking an “indefinite mental health break” from the game leaving Australia’s Ashes preparations in disarray.

The announcement comes a week after the wicketkeeper’s resignation from the captaincy over a sexting scandal.

Paine was due to play for Tasmania in a one-day match in Hobart today in the lead up to the first Ashes test in Brisbane on December 8th but will be unavailable for the “foreseeable future”, the state’s cricket association said.

“Confirming that @tdpaine36 is stepping away from cricket for an indefinite mental health break,” Paine’s manager James Henderson wrote in a social media post.

“We are extremely concerned for his and (wife) Bonnie’s well-being and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Speculation over Paine’s place in the test team has been rife since his resignation over revelations that he was investigated for sending sexually explicit text messages to a female former Cricket Tasmania staffer four years ago.

Paine, was cleared after a 2018 probe by CT and national board Cricket Australia but stepped down last Friday, saying he did not want his captaincy to be a distraction during the Ashes.

He said he would remain available for selection, though selectors chairman George Bailey confirmed Paine was no certainty for the Ashes while coming back from neck surgery.

Bailey also said he would recuse himself from the decision to select Paine, a close friend and business partner, if there was contention on the selection panel.

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley said Paine had advised the board of his decision to step away from the game.

“We recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for Tim and his family and are committed to supporting them,” Hockley said in a statement.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said this week that Paine’s selection against England would still prove distracting for the team.

Pat Cummins is congratulated by teamates after taking a wicket in the 2019 Ashes series.
Photo: Photosport

Paine’s team mates, including spinner Nathan Lyon, said they hoped he would remain in the side.

Paine, who was the only specialist wicketkeeper named in Australia’s 15-man Ashes squad, is likely to be replaced by experienced white ball wicketkeeper Alex Carey or Josh Inglis, both of whom were named in the recent Australia ‘A’ squad.

Relinquishing his place could spell the end of 36-year-old Paine’s international career after 35 tests.

His resignation from the captaincy triggered acrimony between Cricket Tasmania and CA, with the state federation accusing the national board of hanging Paine out to dry.

CA chairman Richard Freudenstein said last week his current board would not have endorsed Paine as captain if presented with the same circumstances as the previous board in 2018.

Australia are expected to name fast bowler Pat Cummins as captain in coming days.

-Reuters