Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has said he knew the explicit messages he had sent to a female colleague at Cricket Tasmania in 2017 would always come out while explaining his decision to quit as captain in the lead up to the much-anticipated Ashes Test series in Australia.

Tim Paine was cleared of any misconduct after a Cricket Australia investigation into the issue following a complaint by the female colleague in 2018. Paine took over as Australia’s Test captain in the same year following the Sandpaper Gate row in which Steve Smith lost his captaincy.

Questions have been raised as to how Australia allowed Tim Paine to continue as captain despite the sexting scandal. However, Cricket Australia chairman Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley on Saturday admitted that they would have fired Tim Paine as captain had they been in charge during the investigation in 2018.

Paine, in a tearful message to the press last week, said he decided to quit as Australia Test captain, admitting that his actions from the past were not worthy of leading the senior national side.

Speaking to Herald Sun in an interview alongside his wife, Tim Paine said he didn’t want the messages to come out but knew the knife was hanging over his head.

“I thought the issue was dealt with, but it always popped up around a big series, or at the start of the cricket season,” Paine said.

“Over the last three years, there have been numerous times where media agencies have put to us that they had evidence, yet they never chose to write it.

“But I knew it was going to come out at some point, as much as I didn’t want it to.”

MESSAGE EXCHANGE WAS CONSENSUAL: PAINE

Meanwhile, Tim Paine stressed that the messages exchanged were in a consensual manner and that he didn’t think at that time that it would “become an issue”. Notably, his female colleague in question resigned from her role with Tasmania Cricket in 2018.

“Because it was a consensual exchange of messages months beforehand, I didn’t think it was anything to consider. I never thought for a moment that it would become an issue. I was just excited and honoured to be asked,” he added.

Tim Paine’s decision to step down as Australia Test captain ahead of Ashes has put the spotlight on the hosts who begin the campaign in December. Australia have not announced Paine’s successor yet even as Pat Cummins’s name is being speculated for the top job.

Meanwhile, Paine said Justin Langer wanted him to continue as Test captain in Ashes but he had made it clear to the head coach that it was time for him to go.

“JL told me he’s devastated. He was pretty firm that he wanted me to continue as captain, and again, once I explained to him the reasons that I thought resigning was the best thing to do, he was with me all the way,” Paine added.

Paine hasn’t been at his best with the bat and his captaincy came into question when India pulled off a stunning 2-1 series win earlier this year, breaching Australia’s fortress at the Gabba.

“I see that as the ultimate high, to be able to finish your Test career after winning an Ashes series in Australia. That’s the dream. That’s what I want to do,” Paine said while stressing he is confident of playing a crucial role in the Ashes.