Tasmania open door for Tim Paine to take on a COACHING role

The playing future of former Test captain Tim Paine remains up the air, with the door ajar for the 37-year-old to take up a coaching role with Cricket Tasmania.

Paine hasn’t played since stepping away from the game last year in the lead-up to the Ashes series when a sexting scandal became public.

Tasmania Tigers coach Jeff Vaughan, who on Thursday inked a five-year deal to return as head of the men’s program, said he was yet to have any major meetings with Paine.

The wicketkeeper and veteran of 35 Tests helped out in a coaching capacity with the Tigers at the tail-end of the Sheffield Shield season.

‘Tim has been a wonderful leader in this program and I wish him all the best wherever (his future) goes, whether it’s in the playing sphere, or outside of cricket,’ Vaughan said.

Vaughan, returning to the Tigers’ job following a 10-month stint as a national assistant, said he was looking to fill state assistant coaching roles.

Disgraced former Australia captain Tim Paine is in line for a coaching career at Tasmania

‘I think (Paine has) got coaching credentials, a coaching skill set. I haven’t spoken to him for quite some time about it,’ he said.

‘I know that coaching was something he has spoken about post his career. We’re yet to understand when is post-career.’

Paine’s last hit-out was a second XI fixture for Tasmania in late November. He attended Thursday’s coaching announcement but didn’t speak publicly.

‘This organisation has been a big supporter of Tim’s and Tim has been a big supporter of this organisation,’ Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker said.

‘That hasn’t wavered right through the last 12 months. We’ll be here as an organisation to continue to support him but he’s got to work those things (his future) out for himself.

The 37-year-old has taken on coaching duties this season and has impressed officials

Paine – who stood down as Australia captain after a sexting scandal – is understood to be weighing up his options

‘There may or may not be opportunities for him coming up. The biggest thing for Tim is to work out what his next stage of life looks like.’

Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin lashed Cricket Australia at the time for their handling of Paine’s resignation as Test captain, saying he was viewed as dispensable.

Baker said the appointment of Vaughan, who held the role for the 2019/20 season, was ‘almost a clearing of the decks’ for him to have control of the state program.

Vaughan replaces interim head coach Ali de Winter.

Cricket Tasmania is searching for a new Hobart Hurricanes coach, after Adam Griffith’s contract wasn’t extended at the end of the most recent BBL season in which the franchise finished fifth.

Baker denied suggestions Cricket Tasmania had spoken to ex-national coach Justin Langer about the role.