Tim Paine abruptly quit as Australian Test cricket captain on Friday over an explicit “private text exchange” with a female colleague—a bombshell announcement just weeks before the Ashes series against arch-rivals England. Paine sobbed as he quit one of the most high-profile roles in world cricket and Australian public life. “Nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague,” Paine, now 36, said, referring to a series of allegedly sexually graphic exchanges with a female co-worker that are only now becoming public.

2017 incident

“I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community,” he said. “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport.” Paine’s departure leaves Australia without a captain who, since being appointed in 2018, won praise for reforming the team’s culture.