Cricket Australia slammed over ‘appalling’ Tim Paine treatment
Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin has hit out at Cricket Australia’s treatment of disgraced former captain Tim Paine.
The wicketkeeper stepped down from the role last Friday after it came to light he had sent explicit messages to an ex-colleague at Cricket Tasmania in 2017
Having represented since 2005/6, Paine had passed a CA integrity review over the matter shortly after he became captain in 2018 following the spot-fixing allegations aimed at, among others, Steve Smith and David Warner.
“In conversations, I have had in recent days it is clear that the anger amongst the Tasmania cricket community and general public is palpable,” Gaggin said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Tim Paine has been a beacon for Australian cricket over the past four years and instrumental in salvaging the reputation of the national team after the calamity of Cape Town.”
The statement further suggested Paine’s treatment is the worst towards an Australia skipper since Bill Lawry, more than half a century ago.
Worst since Lawry
Lawry was famously sacked as captain and dropped from the team ahead of the final Ashes Test in 1971, only learning of his fate during a press conference.
“The treatment afforded to the Australian test captain by Cricket Australia has been appalling, and the worst since Bill Lawry over 50 years ago,” the statement added.
“At a time when CA should have supported Tim, he was evidently regarded as dispensable.
“The Cricket Tasmania board reaffirmed its view that Paine should not have been put in a position where he felt the need to resign over an incident that was determined by an independent inquiry at the time to not be a breach of the code of conduct and was a consensual and private exchange that occurred between two mature adults and was not repeated.”
With the Ashes set to start in Brisbane on December 8, fast bowler Pat Cummins is the favourite for the role as new Test captain, although Smith’s return has also been rumoured.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.