‘My phone has been going berserk’ - Tim Paine opens up after first-class retirement

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine recently announced his retirement from first-class cricket. The 38-year-old decided to call it quits after playing his final game at the Sheffield Shield when Tasmania took on Queensland in the summit clash of the tournament.

Following his retirement from first-class cricket, the 38-year-old came forward to talk about how his phone has been going berserk with messages and the love he has been receiving from his well-wishers. He even opined on getting emotional as he reminisced about his journey with Tasmania.

"My phone has been going berserk, from all around the world as well, which is nice, it's made me a bit emotional reading some of the messages and social media stuff people have sent," Paine told reporters in Hobart.

"I came in the doors at Cricket Tasmania when I was 12 years old ... 26 years ago, which is a long time. It's an emotional time when you move on from something that you love doing and you care deeply about, but I'll still be involved in the game of cricket," he added.

A real moment I'll never forget: Paine on his career highlights

Tim Paine touched upon a variety of topics, and after his retirement, he also talked about his career highlights. The former Australian Test skipper picked his Test debut in 2010 and winning the Sheffield Shield in 2006-07 as the peak moments of his stellar career.

"To play in that [Tasmania] team with Damien Wright, Michael Di Venuto and Dan Marsh and guys I looked up to and them having long careers and never being able to win, I think that was a real moment I'll never forget," Paine said.

"For myself and George Bailey and Hilfy [Ben Hilfenhaus] to come into that side and help those older guys win a Sheffield Shield ... was something I'll hold very closely for the rest of my life," he added.