Paine's club cricket return washed out

Rain spoiled Tim Paine's planned return to cricket in suburban Hobart today, a day after he quit as Test skipper after a sexting scandal became public.

The 36-year-old was due to play his first match in eight months for club side University on Saturday in his return from a neck injury that required surgery.

Paine will next attempt a comeback to prove his fitness in a Tasmania Second XI game against South Australia that begins on Monday at Lindisfarne Oval.

That will be his only hit-out before Australia's Ashes and Australia A squads convene in Brisbane next week ahead of a three-day intra-squad match starting December 1.

The wicketkeeper announced on Friday he was stepping down as captain of the Test team but would remain a member of Australia's Ashes squad and available for selection.

Paine had remained hidden from public view in the Queenborough Oval away dressing room throughout the morning as the match against Sandy Bay was delayed by a wet outfield.

He emerged after the match had been called off and was surrounded by cameras as he left.

National selector George Bailey had been seen at the ground earlier but did not speak to media.

Paine admitted sending messages to a female Cricket Tasmania employee in 2017, reported by News Corp as a series of lewd texts and an inappropriate image.

Paine, who was appointed Test skipper in March 2018 in the wake of the ball tampering scandal, issued an emotional apology to his family and the game.

"On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community," he said on Friday.

CA chair Richard Freudenstein said Paine would continue to be available for selection in the Test team through the Ashes summer.

Vice-captain Pat Cummins is favoured to be appointed captain ahead of the first Vodafone Ashes Test in Brisbane on December 8.

"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," Freudenstein said.

Vodafone Men's Ashes v England

Tour Matches

Nov 23-25: England v England Lions, Brisbane

Nov 30 – Dec 3: England v England Lions, Brisbane

Dec 1-3: Australian intra-squad match, Brisbane

Dec 9-12: Australia A v England Lions, Brisbane

Tests

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Perth Stadium