Tim Paine not named in Tasmania's contract list 2022-23

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has not been named in Tasmania's contract list for the 2022-23 season. As a result, Paine's playing career seems to be almost over.

Tim Paine resigned as Australia's Test captain before the Ashes series last summer after it was revealed that he had sent sexually explicit messages to a former Cricket Tasmania employee. Paine took an indefinite break from professional cricket to focus on his mental health. As a result, the wicketkeeper-batter hasn't been included on Tasmania's contracted player list.

After taking a break from cricket following his captaincy resignation, Paine returned to Tasmanian cricket as an assistant coach last season.

As per a spokesperson, Cricket Tasmania did not offer the former Australia skipper a contract on Thursday because he is still on mental health leave from cricket.

Tasmania's quotas are already full, so Paine will not be available for selection even if he chooses to return to state cricket this summer. He is unlikely to sign the contract later in the year. His professional career is in serious doubt, and he will be 38 at the end of the summer. Age is not on his side, Tim is not going to get any younger, and we might never see him on the cricket field as a player.

Tim Paine last featured in a cricket match in April last year, but he did play for the Tasmania Second XI. He joined the Tasmanian Tigers' coaching staff earlier this year.