Jim Wilson says Cricket Australia only decided to take “the moral high ground” once the Tim Paine sexting scandal became public.

Paine resigned as captain of the men’s Test side after lewd messages he sent to a former Cricket Tasmania employee in 2017 emerged.

A subsequent investigation carried out by the integrity unit in 2018 found Paine had not violated Cricket Australia’s code of conduct.

“Let’s just cut to the chase here, Cricket Australia has stuffed up big time,” Jim Wilson said.

“They should have dumped Paine back in 2018 when they became aware of the sexting scandal, no ifs no buts.

“Why head office decided there was no breach by Paine is beyond me.

“Not it may have involved two consenting adults, but come on. The pictures and Paine’s language was a disgrace and not befitting the captain of our cricket team.

“It was demeaning, and I’m sorry, but as the Australian captain what he did was reprehensible and he should have been sacked back then.”

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