Tim Paine has resigned as Australia’s Test captain ahead of the Ashes due to an ongoing investigation into sexually explicit texts sent to a female colleague.
Paine has admitted to sending messages to a coworker at Cricket Tasmania in 2017, which prompted 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
Cricket Australia (CA) has accepted Paine’s resignation and will appoint a new captain, but the wicketkeeper-batter will remain in the side to face England.
The current vice-captain, fast bowler Pat Cummins, is widely expected to take over as captain.
The Ashes is set to go underway on December 8.