<p>Tim Paine stepped down as Australia Test cricket captain on Friday for sending inappropriate text messages to a female co-worker, although an investigation by governing body Cricket Australia exonerated him of any breach of its code of conduct.</p>.<p>The governing body has accepted the resignation, a decision Paine said he made as he was aware the investigation by the body's integrity unit would be made public.</p>.<p>"Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today," he told a news conference in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart.</p>.<p>"I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support."</p>.<p>Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper said Paine's messages sent to the co-worker in 2017 had included a lewd photo.</p>.<p>"On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community," Paine said.</p>.<p>In a statement, Cricket Australia said, "The Board has accepted Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain.</p>.<p>"While the board acknowledges an investigation cleared Tim of any breach of the code of conduct regarding this matter some years ago, we respect his decision.</p>.<p>"CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour.</p>.<p>"Tim will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer."</p>.<p>Earlier, announcing his decision, Paine said, "It's an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket."</p>.<p>He added that the investigation and one by Cricket Tasmania HR at the same time had found no breach of the code of conduct.</p>.<p>"We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years." </p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Tim Paine stepped down as Australia Test cricket captain on Friday for sending inappropriate text messages to a female co-worker, although an investigation by governing body Cricket Australia exonerated him of any breach of its code of conduct.</p>.<p>The governing body has accepted the resignation, a decision Paine said he made as he was aware the investigation by the body's integrity unit would be made public.</p>.<p>"Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today," he told a news conference in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart.</p>.<p>"I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support."</p>.<p>Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper said Paine's messages sent to the co-worker in 2017 had included a lewd photo.</p>.<p>"On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community," Paine said.</p>.<p>In a statement, Cricket Australia said, "The Board has accepted Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain.</p>.<p>"While the board acknowledges an investigation cleared Tim of any breach of the code of conduct regarding this matter some years ago, we respect his decision.</p>.<p>"CA does not condone this type of language or behaviour.</p>.<p>"Tim will continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer."</p>.<p>Earlier, announcing his decision, Paine said, "It's an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket."</p>.<p>He added that the investigation and one by Cricket Tasmania HR at the same time had found no breach of the code of conduct.</p>.<p>"We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years." </p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>