Cricket Australia has admitted they should have dumped Tim Paine as Test captain after he opened up about his sexting scandal in 2018.
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, CA chairman Richard Freudenstein conceded the current board and chief executive were 'not across all the details of the investigation' three years ago.
He also said the current board would have pushed for a different skipper.
'I can't talk about the 2018 decision, I wasn't there,' Freudenstein said.
'But I am saying based on the facts as they are today, the board of Cricket Australia would not have made that decision.
Cricket Australia has admitted they should have dumped Tim Paine as Test captain after he opened up about his sexting scandal in 2018
The married father of two (pictured with wife Bonnie) sent a female staffer from Cricket Tasmania a number of suggestive texts as well as a unsolicited image
'I acknowledge the decision clearly sent the wrong message that this behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences.
'The role of Australian cricket captain must be held to the highest standards.'
Freudenstein went on to add that 'Tim admits he made a mistake in 2017 and since then his behavior as a leader and cricket (performances) have been great.'
With Paine's Test career in tatters, Alex Carey will be his likely replacement behind the stumps, with CA stating they have 'accelerated the process' of announcing the wicketkeeper's successor for the Ashes and beyond.
CA also pointed out they have since undertaken a 'full review' when it comes to sexual harassment education.
Saturday's development follows The Australian Cricketers' Association leaping to the defence of Paine 24 hours earlier, adamant he should have stayed in his coveted role.
In a statement, the ACA said they were 'saddened' that Paine, a father of two, felt the need to resign as captain of the Australian Test team.
'While regrettable, this was a historical mistake that was a private matter between consenting individuals. Tim fully cooperated in an integrity investigation by Cricket Australia in 2018 in which he was exonerated,' the statement read.
'Tim humbly recognised the respect that comes with the Australian captaincy and his resignation reflects the esteem in which he held the role he served so well in a trying period for Australian cricket.'
The statement went on to outline Paine played 'a crucial role in restoring pride back in the Australian team' following his 2018 appointment and despite his mistake, he has 'the full and unequivocal support of the ACA'.
On Friday, Paine relinquished the Test captaincy after details of his lewd behaviour publicly emerged.
Paine, 36, sent a photo of his penis to a female co-worker along with a stream of lewd text messages on November 22 and 23 in 2017 - the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
It was Paine's return to the Test arena after a seven year wait.
Australia test cricket captain Tim Paine, 36, sent a series of raunchy texts to a female Cricket Tasmania colleague
