Sexting scandal Test cricketer Tim Paine looked less than impressed on Monday as he was photographed on the sidelines of the Second XI match between Tasmania and South Australia in Hobart.
The attention he was getting from the press was certainly unwanted, though it can hardly have been unexpected given the revelations about him in recent days.
While Paine believes the scandal was the result of his 'inflated ego' as a Test cricketer, he said he doesn't know why he did it.
Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine is seen between innings during the Second XI cricket match between Tasmania and South Australia at Lindisfarne Memorial Park in Hobart on Monday, November 22, 2021
His text exchange with a Cricket Tasmania staffer included an unsolicited' picture of his genitals and 'graphic sexual comments', that caused her to complain seven months later.
The married father-of-two was investigated and cleared of wrongdoing by Cricket Australia in 2018, when he confessed to wife Bonnie that he sexted the woman over the course of 18 hours.
But the matter was kept secret for three years until the messages were made public on Friday afternoon and Paine tearfully resigned as Australian captain.
Former Australian Test Captain Tim Paine tries to ignore photographers at the Second XI cricket match between Tasmania and South Australia on Monday
Paine was hit from all sides for his conduct, but legendary spin bowler Shane Warne, who himself is no stranger to sex scandals, threw his support behind him.
He admitted he doesn't know why he sexted with the staffer but offered several theories to explain his behaviour.
'I battle with that every day, "Why did I send those messages?' Maybe it's as simple as stupidity? Or an inflated ego? Or feeling needed or wanted, being flattering,' the 36-year-old told the Herald Sun.
Paine says he told wife Bonnie (pictured) in mid-2018 after Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia investigated the incident between him and the young staffer
Paine announced his resignation as captain in a statement on Friday afternoon and held a press conference and 2.30pm on Friday where he tearfully apologised
'Or that it was dangerous or risqué? I don't know, I'm not sure. But I know I wish I hadn't, and it'll be a life of regret that I did.'
Warne wrote in a column for the publication people shouldn't be quick to judge Paine because 'he's only human'.
'I'm not judging him on this incident. Just because Tim is in the public eye doesn't mean he won't make a mistake,' he wrote.
'Sportspersons are human, they have feelings. Let's stop the judgement. It's not our place to do that.'
Cricket legend Shane Warne has leapt to the defence of disgraced former test captain Tim Paine after the 36-year-old was involved in a sexting scandal dating back to 2017
Bonnie said she has 'a lot of sympathy' for her husband and said the pair have overcome the matter, despite her considering leaving him at the time
Paine, who opened up on the scandal alongside his wife Bonnie, said he would regularly talk with the woman about cricket-related things until one day it took a 'flirtatious' turn.
'There was nothing unusual about it. But then, one text was sent that was a little open-ended, and it became a flirtatious
