CA Says Paine Should Have Stood Down In 2018
Cricket Australia has now admitted to the fact that former Test captain Tim Paine should have been asked to stand down when he was initially investigated over a scandalous text message three years ago.
The cricketing body will in future perform background checks on all potential national team captains.
An emotional Paine finally stood down on Friday afternoon after admitting that he had indeed sent inappropriate text messages to a female colleague back in 2017. Paine’s exit as captain comes only three weeks before the opening of the Ashes clash against England.
Up to $60 NZD
During a speaking arrangement on Saturday, current Cricket Australia chairman Richard Freudenstein said the decision that permitted Paine to remain on as captain of the national side had been a mistake made by the previous administration.
Freudenstein added that while he hadn’t been present during the 2018 integrity investigation, based on the facts now at his disposal, he believes the decision back then to have sent the wrong message. He added that Paine’s behaviour should have been treated as serious and unacceptable, which it wasn’t at the time.
The favourite expected to replace Paine is vice-captain Pat Cummins. A concern is this regard is whether or not Cummins will be able to handle the pressure and workload involved with skipper duties coupled with bowling responsibilities – and especially so during something as large and significant as the Ashes Test.
Former skipper Steve Smith has also been cited as a possible option for replacing Paine.
