Amid the controversy related to Tim Paine’s resignation as Test captain following the revelation of explicit backdated messages to an ex-colleague, Cricket Australia boss Richard Freudenstein has said their stance on Paine’s elevation to leadership duties would be a lot different to what it was if the relevant information had not come so late.
Paine took the decision to relinquish his post on November 19 when he was made aware that his code of conduct case dated 2017 and the inappropriate exchange with a female co-worker would be made public.
While the wicketkeeper-batter apologised to the Australian public and his family, besides keeping himself available for selection as a player, the issue has raised scrutiny around CA and Cricket Tasmania’s call to clear Paine in the case at the time.
The exchange dates back to near the time Paine was brought back in the side after a seven-year hiatus for the 2017-18 home Ashes. A year later, he was appointed Australia’s Test captain in the aftermath of the Cape Town ball-tampering saga.
From then to now, CA’s regime has seen major changes, chairman Freudenstein says the board’s stance on Paine’s appointment as skipper wouldn’t have been the same if the proper details of the exchange were made available to them back in the day.
“While I cannot speak about the original decision-making in 2018, what I can say is that faced with the same circumstances and with the benefit of all the relevant information about this matter, Cricket Australia would not make the same decisions today,”
he said in a statement issued on November 20, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“I acknowledge the decision clearly sent the wrong message to the sport, to the community and to Tim that this kind of behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences. The role of the Australian cricket captain must be held to the highest possible standards.”
Freudenstein, however, defended CA’s procedure around Paine’s case and backed the board’s code of conduct policy in such matters. The chairman, who confirmed he was told of the then closed case about two years ago, also said he does not believe the matter required intervention after being considered close until CA were forced to do as it was about to be made public.
Lastly, he added that CA has no issues with Paine turning up for Australia at the Ashes as a player, having given up the captaincy.
