Tim Paine text scandal will be an Ashes distraction for Australia, says Ricky Ponting
Tim Paine stood down as Australia's captain last week; The Ashes start on December 8 at the Gabba; Ponting said: "As much as we would all love to see it go away and there comes a point where it's never talked about, it's inevitable that it's going to be there"
Thursday 25 November 2021 06:53, UK
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said Tim Paine's resignation from the captaincy due to a 'sexting' scandal will be a distraction during the five-Test Ashes series against England.
Paine stood down from the role last Friday after media revelations he had been investigated and cleared over sexually explicit text messages sent to a female former colleague at Cricket Tasmania in 2017.
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"I think it inevitably will (be a distraction). He's made a huge call for himself, for Australian cricket and for the betterment of the Australian cricket team. But it's not going to go away," Ponting said.
"As much as we would all love to see it go away and there comes a point where it's never talked about, it's inevitable that it's going to be there.
"Unfortunately for Tim he's going to get asked about it everywhere he goes. It will blow over and hopefully, it passes in enough time to have some really good clear headspace going into Brisbane (for the first Test)."
The Ashes begins on December 8 at the Gabba.
Ponting said Alex Carey could replace Paine as wicketkeeper and backed Josh Inglis, who has yet to make his international debut, to be the long-term successor behind the stumps.
"I'm on record saying I love Inglis. I think he's going to be a really good cricketer for Australia for a long time in whatever format they pick him in first, whether it's T20s, one-dayers or Test cricket," added Ponting.
