Australian test skipper Tim Paine takes indefinite break from all cricket 

Tim Paine break: Australian Test skipper, Tim Paine has taken an indefinite leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future. The news comes a week after Paine stepped down from the role of captain of the national test team. 

Pat Cummins has been named the new captain of the Australian Test side and Steve Smith has been named his deputy. 

Tim Paine would be taking an indefinite mental health break from cricket. He is set to miss the first Ashes Test, which is scheduled to start in Brisbane on December 8, 2021. Cricket Tasmania, for whom Paine plays for domestically, released a statement on November 26, 2021 informing about his break from cricket.

Read more: Pat Cummins becomes first fast bowler to captain Australia's test side full-time

As per the statement, the former Australia captain Tim Paine advised Cricket Tasmania "he will be taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future." 

The cricketer's manager James Henderson also confirmed that he is stepping down "for an indefinite mental health break." 

Tim Paine controversy

The news comes after a controversy blew up over inappropriate texts that Paine allegedly sent to a female co-worker at Cricket Tasmania in 2017.

An investigation was conducted on the allegations of misconduct on the part of the player. While Paine was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time, he still chose to step down as captain as he did not want to "become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes series."

Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said, "We recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for Tim and his family and are committed to supporting them. He said, "we respect and understand Tim’s decision to have a break at this time to focus on his and his family’s well-being."

Tim Paine's Cricket Career: Important Facts You need to know!

•Timothy Paine is a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper of the Australian national cricket team.

•He had made his ODI debut in Australia vs Scotland match as a replacement for regular wicket-keeper Brad Haddin in 2009.

•He made his test debut in Australia vs Pakistan test match in England in 2010 due to further injury to Haddin. 

•After 2011, he was not a regular in the Australian cricket team due to almost  two full seasons of injury. 

•He was recalled for the 2017/2018 Ashes series, which was a significant comeback for him.

•Paine was announced as the interim captain of the Australian side after regular Australian captain Steve Smith and Vice-Captain David Warner stepped down from their  leadership positions mid-match after the ball-tampering row during the third test against South Africa in March 2018.

•Tim Paine was appointed as the 46th Captain of the Australian Test side on March 28, 2018 when Smith and Warner were suspended.

Tim Paine Batting Stats