Tim Paine steps down from Australia Test captaincy after sending indecent messages to female co-worker

England
and
Australia
will
lock
horns
in
the
five-match
Ashes,
beginning
December
8
at
the
Gabba,
Brisbane.

Cricket
Australia
informed
about
Paine’s
decision
to
leave
captaincy
“immediately”.

“Tim
Paine
has
advised
the
Board
of
Cricket
Australia
of
his
decision
to
stand
down
as
captain
of
the
Australian
men’s
Test
team,
effective
immediately,”
Cricket
Australia
(CA)
said
in
a
statement.

Cricket
Australia
said
the
Board
has
accepted
Paine’s
resignation
and
will
now
accelerate
the
process
of
identifying
and
appointing
a
new
Test
captain.

“Tim
felt
it
was
in
the
best
interests
of
his
family
and
Australian
cricket
to
take
this
decision
to
step
down
as
captain,”
CA
Chair
Richard
Freudenstein
said
in
a
statement.

“The
Board
has
accepted
Tim’s
resignation
and
will
now
work
through
a
process
with
the
National
Selection
Panel
of
identifying
and
appointing
a
new
captain.

“While
the
Board
acknowledges
an
investigation
cleared
Tim
of
any
breach
of
the
code
of
conduct
regarding
this
matter
(explicit
message
to
the
female
co-worker)
some
years
ago,
we
respect
his
decision.

“CA
does
not
condone
this
type
of
language
or
behaviour,”
the
statement
further
added.

“Despite
the
mistake
he
made,
Tim
has
been
an
exceptional
leader
since
his
appointment
and
the
Board
thanks
him
for
his
distinguished
service.

“Tim
will
continue
to
be
available
for
selection
in
the
Test
team
through
the
Ashes
summer,”
the
statement
concluded.