The future of former Australia Test captain Tim Paine remains up in the air following the emergence of a historic sexting scandal on the eve of the Ashes.
The scandal saw Paine quit as captain less than three weeks before the series began and he then took an indefinite break from the sport. The 37-year-old last took to the field in November for Tasmania's second XI, before returning to do some coaching with the senior side towards the back end of the Sheffield Shield.
Tasmania have just appointed a new head coach, with Jeff Vaughan leaving his role as an assistant coach with Australia to put pen to paper on a five-year deal. And, although he is yet to have a formal discussion with Paine about what the future may hold for him, Vaughan left the door open for him to join his backroom team.
"Tim has been a wonderful leader in this program and I wish him all the best wherever [his future] goes, whether it's in the playing sphere, or outside of cricket," Vaughan said. "I think [he has] got coaching credentials, a coaching skill set.
"I haven't spoken to him for quite some time about it. I know that coaching was something he has spoken about post his career. We're yet to understand when is post-career."
Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker was also asked about Paine's future but remained coy, admitting there "may or may not be opportunities for him coming up". He said: "This organisation has been a big supporter of Tim's and Tim has been a big supporter of this organisation.
"That hasn't wavered right through the last 12 months. We'll be here as an organisation to continue to support him but he's got to work those things [his future] out for himself.
"There may or may not be opportunities for him coming up. The biggest thing for Tim is to work out what his next stage of life looks like."
Vaughan has replaced Adam Griffith as Tasmania's coach after the 44-year-old resigned in January. "While making several finals across both programs, we have not won the trophies the Tasmanian fans deserve and therefore I feel the time is right for a new hand to help write the next chapters," Griffith said at the time.
