The Herald Sun published alleged text message exchanges and say Paine sent a naked photo to the woman four years ago.
Before a match against England in 2017,the woman allegedly texted:“I will think naughty thoughts about you whilst we watch the TV”.
Tim Paine walks out for the coin toss in his Captain’s Blazer during day one of the First Test match in the series between Australia and Pakistan in 2018.Credit:Getty
“I’m cracking! Ha ha. Naughty thoughts like what? I’m about to give something firm a pull …,” Paine wrote in response.
The woman replied:“Ha,sorry I’m getting ready for work … it’s a big day for us kids”.
Paine texted back:“Will you want to taste my ---?? F--- me,I’m seriously hard.”
Australia will now need to appoint a new Test captain. Pat Cummins is the frontrunner.
In a statement,CA said:“The board has accepted Paine’s resignation and will now accelerate the process of identifying and appointing a new Test captain.”
CA Chair Richard Freudenstein said:“Tim felt it was in the best interests of his family and Australian cricket to take this decision to step down as captain.
“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.
“CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour. Despite the mistake he made,Tim has been an exceptional leader since his appointment and the Board thanks him for his distinguished service. Tim will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer.”
Tim Paine (left),pictured here with Australian coach Justin Langer,says he still hopes to play in this summer’s Ashes.Credit:Getty
The Australian Cricketers’ Association said it was “saddened” by the news and that the cricketer had their “full and unequivocal support” despite his “mistake”.
ACA chairman Greg Dyer and chief executive Todd Greenberg released a joint statement.
“While respecting the decision made by Tim Paine,the ACA is saddened that he felt the need to resign from the captaincy of the Australian Test Team,” the statement read. “While regrettable,this was an historical mistake that was a private matter between consenting individuals.
“Tim fully cooperated in an integrity investigation by Cricket Australia in 2018 in which he was exonerated. Tim humbly recognised the respect that comes with the Australian captaincy and his resignation reflects the esteem in which he held the role that he served so well in a trying period for Australian cricket.
“While Tim has clearly made a mistake,he will continue to have the full and unequivocal support of the ACA.”
Cricket Tasmania also released a statement shortly after Paine addressed the media.
“The allegations raised against Tim Paine by a former Cricket Tasmania employee were only brought to the attention of Cricket Tasmania when formal charges of theft were laid against that employee in mid-2018,” read a Cricket Tasmania statement.
Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin said no complaint was raised at the time of the incident in November 2017.
“As soon as Cricket Tasmania was made aware,it undertook an investigation that determined the interaction was consensual,private,occurred on the one occasion only,was between mature adults and was not repeated,” Gaggin said.
“Cricket Tasmania clearly does not condone this type of behaviour and addressed the matter directly with Tim Paine.
“However,because of the consensual nature of the actions it was determined that no further action was required or appropriate.”