The head of Cricket Australia is helping Tim Paine to make the test return
 

By Talat Masood Dec 10, 2021, 11:21 IST

MELBOURNE: Nick Hockley, chief executive officer of Cricket Australia (CA), is hoping Tim Paine will get back to the test site of the country "as soon as possible" after the wicket-keeper from captaincy over his involvement in a "sexting" scandal has resigned.

Paine interrupted Australia's Ashes prep weeks before the series began when he stepped down as captain before it was revealed he would be taking an indefinite break, citing mental health issues.

The trigger for Paine's sudden exit was a text messaging scandal that occurred in 2017 and which involved a Cricket Tasmania employee. CA became aware of the incident in 2018 but supported Paine in continuing to captain and lead Australia at the time in an effort to restore the team's image following the Cape Town fraud crisis.

Trainer Justin Langer has offered public and private assistance to Paine, flying to Hobart after his release from quarantine and holding the door open for his "really close" friend to put on the baggy green again. "I would love to see him play again, both for his state and for Australia," Hockley told SEN. "We want to see him out there again as soon as possible, play and perform."

Hockley added that the CA was trying to assist Paine in the situation.

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“The head coach was down to see him. We sent members of our high performance setup to [Tasmania]. The Tasmanian cricket community has put its arms around him, ”said Hockley. "We are all very, very concerned ... a lot of respect for Tim, that he admits his mistake and that our job now is to really support him."

Paine also received support from Australia's coach Justin Langer, who did not rule out the 37-year-old's possible return to the national team.

"The head coach came to see him, we took members of our high-performance team over to Tassie. The Tasmanian cricket community has put its arms around him," said Hockley. "We're all very, very concerned - making sure that Tim is well supported. Much respect to Tim, that he admits his mistake and that our job now is to really support him."

Hockley noted repeatedly that Paine had made his own call to resign as captain, but "that was a decision the board felt appropriate".