‘Incredibly blessed’: Tim Paine retires from all forms of domestic cricket

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has retired from all forms of domestic cricket, effective immediately.

The 38-year-old played his final Sheffield Shield match for Tasmania this week, a draw against Queensland in Hobart, receiving a guard of honour from teammates and opponents while exiting Blundstone Arena on Friday afternoon. He scored 42 (62) in the first innings and an unbeaten 3 in the second.

Paine represented Tasmania in 95 Sheffield Shield matches after making his first-class debut against South Australia in 2005 — he finished his career with 296 dismissals, a state record.

“He’s been a phenomenal player,” Tasmanian captain Jordan Silk told reporters on Friday.

“It’s an effort to have the longevity that he’s had.

“He’s certainly going to be missed behind the stumps. I don’t think there will ever be another wicketkeeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia.

“We’ve been incredibly blessed down here, and we wish him all the best.”

Paine scored 4114 runs at 28.17 in the Sheffield Shield, peeling off three centuries and 21 fifties. The veteran gloveman also represented Australia in 35 Tests, serving as captain for 23 matches between 2018 and 2021.

Most Sheffield Shield dismissals for Tasmanian wicketkeepers

296 — Tim Paine

262 — Mark Atkinson

232 — Sean Clingeleffer

110 — Roger Woolley

107 — Richard Soule

Paine won two Sheffield Shield titles with Tasmania, including the state’s maiden triumph in 2007. He captained the Tigers in 18 Sheffield Shield matches between 2010 and 2021, winning seven.

After stepping down from the Test side in the wake of revelations he sent explicit messages to a Cricket Tasmania employee, Paine was not offered a state contract ahead of the 2022/23 summer.

However, the right-hander was picked for Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield opener against Queensland after stepping away from the sport for 10 months, playing seven first-class matches this season.