Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine announced his first-class cricket retirement on March 17, 2023 following the conclusion of Tasmania’s Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at Blundstone Arena.
Tim Paine Retires From First Class Cricket
The Hobart-born Paine represented Tasmania for over 18 years after debuting in 2005, playing 153 first-class matches. Paine represented Tasmania in 95 Sheffield Shield matches after making his first-class debut against South Australia in 2005 — he finished his career with 296 dismissals, a state record.
He became Australia’s 46th Test skipper after Steve Smith was stood down during Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa and led Australia in 23 Tests between early 2018 and 2021.
On November 2021, Paine stepped down as Australia Test captain after being engulfed in a ‘sexting’ scandal in 2017. He said he was “exonerated”, but stepped down as he had learned his texts were set to be revealed publicly.
Paine then took a leave of absence from the game, with his manager saying the player was taking “an indefinite mental health break“, before he returned to play for Tasmania in October 2022.
He did not do a press conference after the play. It was instead left to Tasmania captain Jordan Silk to confirm that Paine was ending his first-class career.
“He’s been a phenomenal player. I think it’s around 22 years of professional cricket. It’s an incredible effort to have the longevity that he’s had. He’s certainly going to be missed behind the stumps.
I certainly won’t play, I’m sure a lot of guys who are playing now will say that there will never be another keeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia. So we’ve been incredibly blessed down here. And we wish him all the best in whatever he chooses going forward.” Silk said.
“Considering his age, the standard of keeping he has been able to maintain has been really incredible. He sets a great example with his work ethic for all our guys. We have been incredibly blessed down here and we wish him all the best in whatever he chooses going forward.” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said.
Paine scored 4114 runs at 28.17 in the Sheffield Shield, peeling off three centuries and 21 fifties. The veteran gloveman also represented Australia in 35 Tests, serving as captain for 23 matches between 2018 and 2021.
