Cricket news: Tim Paine has stepped down as the Australian Test Captain

Tim Paine announced that he is stepping down as the Australian test cricket captain after the texting scandal. The Australian cricketer announced his decision on Friday. He took this hard decision as he was alleged of sending inappropriate text messages to a female coworker. An investigation by the governing body of Cricket Australia cleared him out of the breaches of its code of conduct.

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After he decided to resign, the governing body accepted the resignation as well. Tim Paine took this decision though he knew that everything about this investigation will be made public. This is a difficult decision, but he believes that it's the right decision for him, his family, and cricket.

Tim shared his thoughts at a news conference in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. "Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today. I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support."

According to Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, his messages had included a lewd photo and he sent it in 2017.

He further said, "On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community."

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Statement of Cricket Australia:

Cricket Australia 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 some years ago, we respect his decision."

They further added, "CA does not condone this type of language or behavior. Tim will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer."

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While announcing, Tim said, "It's an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket."

He also informed that the investigation and one by Cricket Tasmania HR at the same time did not find any breach of the conduct. "We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years."