Tim Paine dropped from state contracts by Cricket Tasmania

After a controversial sexting scandal, former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has not been offered a state contract by Cricket Tasmania, his home state. Just before the Ashes series, Paine had stepped down as the captain of the side following the controversy and taken an extended “mental health break” from cricket.

It was revealed last year that he had sent sexually explicit texts to former Cricket Tasmania receptionist Renee Ferguson between 2015 and 2017. The cricketer had refused the allegations saying the communication was consensual.

An internal inquiry exonerated him in 2018, but the results were not made public until late last year. Ferguson, Paine’s accuser, filed a sexual harassment complaint against Cricket Tasmania. Ferguson is also charged with stealing money from Cricket Tasmania, with her case being heard in Hobart.

Meanwhile, according to a Cricket Tasmania representative, Paine was not offered a contract because of his extended mental health break approved by Cricket Australia. The wicketkeeper-batter played 35 Tests and 147 First-Class matches in his career, and despite the scandal that led to his ignominious exit, he is widely regarded for his role in rebuilding Australian cricket in the aftermath of Sandpaper-gate in 2018, when three of his colleagues were suspended over ball-tampering charges.

Tim Paine was named the Test Captain after Steve Smith’s ban

Paine was not the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for Australia, as the team already had Matthew Wade to fulfill the duties. But the year 2016-17 saw a decline in Wade’s performance and thus Paine was roped in by the team for the Sri Lankan T20I series, which marked his comeback.

It came as a shock to many as he was named in the Australian squad for the 2017/18 Ashes series. Paine had lost the practice of keeping the gloves back then but he was given the duties for the Ashes. But he impressed everyone and stood out  with both bat and gloves. His successful stint later awarded him the captaincy hat after Steve Smith’s two-year ban.