Aus Test Captain resigns after ‘sexting’ scandal

Tim Paine has stepped down as Australia Test captain before the Ashes over a historical investigation into sexually explicit texts to a female colleague.

A tearful Paine, 36, said he had sent messages to a co-worker at Cricket Tasmania in 2017 that led to a misconduct investigation after she made allegations against him in 2018.

He said he was “exonerated”, but is stepping down as he had learned his texts were set to be revealed publicly. The Ashes start on 8 December.

Cricket Australia said it accepted Paine’s resignation.