Tim Paine was the golden child of Australian cricket. Affectionately dubbed ‘The Kid’ by fans, Paine was the youngest-ever contracted player in Australia at 16 years old. The wicketkeeper–batsman rose to the captain’s chair as the cleanskin new leadership after the furore of the ball-tampering incident in South Africa. Paine’s three-year turn at Test captaincy was turbulent on the pitch, with a slew of narrow wins and close, tough results. Then, in November 2021, a sexting scandal saw him step down as Australia’s Test captain, taking an indefinite break from the game. Paine was down – but not out. As the scandal has played out in the public spotlight, Paine has had to grapple with the effect of the aftermath on his marriage, his career and his reputation. He made a mistake – and has paid the price for it. A high price.