Former Australian captain and current Tasmanian Tigers wicketkeeper Tim Paine has officially hung up the gloves, electing to retire from domestic cricket.
Paine, who exited the Australian set up ahead of the last home Ashes after an off-field controversy, took time away from cricket before returning to the Tigers, but was never a chance of returning to international cricket with Alex Carey now well-established in the Australian side.
The former national skipper instead plied his trade for the Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes at BBL level.
Since the BBL break, Paine's four games have seen him take 11 dismissals, but struggle with the bat, only making more than 20 on one occasion, and without making a public announcement, he had decided the final Shield game of the season against the Queensland Bulls at Blundstone Arena in Hobart - which was drawn - would be his last.
The 38-year-old made it known to teammates he was set to retire, and was given a guard of honour by both teams as he made his way from the ground at the end of play on Day 4 after the match had officially come to its conclusion.
Paine didn't address the media after play either, instead leaving responsibilities to Tasmanian skipper Jordan Silk.
"He's been a phenomenal player," Silk said.
"I think it's around 22 years of professional cricket. It's an incredible effort to have the longevity that he's had. He's certainly going to be missed behind the stumps. I certainly won't play, I'm sure a lot of guys who are playing now will say that there will never be another keeper as good as Tim Paine in Australia.
"So we've been incredibly blessed down here. And we wish him all the best in whatever he chooses going forward."
Paine, who played 35 Tests, made a total of 154 first-class appearances, where he holds 12th spot on the Shield wicketkeeping dismissals list with 296.
All up, he has taken 517 catches and added 23 stumping in first-class cricket, with 150 catches and 7 stumpings at Test level. He averaged a tick under 30 with the bat, scoring 6490 runs in all first-class cricket.
He also represented both Australian short-format teams, with 35 ODIs and 12 T20Is.
