Tim Paine calls it a day from first-class cricket

Tim Paine hung up his boots from the first-class cricket following the conclusion of Tasmania-Queensland Sheffield Shield round in a rather quiet manner. Paine, whose Test career ended in a really abrupt fashion when the sexting scandal broke out, didn’t make any public announcement about retiring from the format but had informed his Tasmania teammates that the clash against Queensland would be his last.

"He's been a phenomenal player," Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said in the post-match press conference. "I think it's around 22 years of professional cricket. It's an incredible effort to have the longevity that he's had. He's certainly going to be missed behind the stumps. 

“I certainly won't play, I'm sure a lot of guys who are playing now will say that there will never be another keeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia. So we've been incredibly blessed down here. And we wish him all the best in whatever he chooses going forward."

Three weeks before the men's Ashes series against England, Paine found himself embroiled in a controversy related to a sexting scandal. Cricket Australia removed him as captain and instated Pat Cummins as the new leader. That made the Brisbane Test against India his last Test of his career but Paine made a return to the first-class circuit and even played Big Bash League matches.

"Considering his age the level of the standard of keeping and he's still been able to generate has been really incredible," Silk said. "He's always someone that you know is doing the work behind the scenes. I think he sets a great example for work ethic and all that sort of stuff for all of our guys."

Paine didn’t really have a rewarding international career but when Australia found themselves struggling with culture issues, Paine, Aaron Finch and Justin Langer led the fulcrum to ensure Australia reclaimed their lost glory. That made Paine one of the most revered figures in world cricket, briefly but incadescently.