Details emerge about ugly rift between Cricket Australia and players

Aussie Test players are reportedly disgruntled with Cricket Australia (CA) over how the governing body has handled Tim Paine's sexting scandal.

Paine's resignation as Test captain came amid revelations he was at the centre of a 2018 integrity unit investigation into alleged lewd texts with a female Cricket Tasmania colleague.

In 2018, Paine was cleared by CA of any misconduct following a 2018 integrity unit investigation after the texts were found to be private, consensual and not an act of misconduct.

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The wicketkeeper said he wouldn't step down entirely and wished to be a part of the team and defend the Ashes urn on home soil.

However, The Age has reported the players have become perturbed with CA over how they have handled this issue and a host of others.

The players feel Paine has been left hung out to dry for an issue that occurred years ago, according to the publication.

This follows a players dispute with CA in 2017, which was quickly followed by the South Africa ball-tampering scandal.

Players reportedly felt Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft should have had their bans shortened after the scandal.

Reports players were disgruntled with coach Justin Langer's intense management style also caused headlines over the last few months.

Langer and his relationship with the players dominated cricket headlines for weeks as he was backed to stay on and coach team through the Ashes.

Cricket Australia under fire over Tim Paine issue

However, there are also a number of parties that have been left fuming with how CA have handled the sexting saga.

Tasmania Cricket delivered a stunning retort at CA over how they've handled the situation.

On Tuesday, Chairman Andrew Gaggin launched an extraordinary attack and said the treatment of Paine has been 'appalling'.

"In conversations I have had in recent days it is clear that the anger amongst the Tasmanian cricket community and general public is palpable," Cricket Tasmania chair Gaggin said.

"Tim Paine has been a beacon for Australian cricket over the past four years and instrumental in salvaging the reputation of the national team after the calamity of Cape Town.

"Yet, at a time when (Cricket Australia) should have supported Tim, he was evidently regarded as dispensable.

"The treatment afforded to the Australian Test captain by Cricket Australia has been appalling, and the worst since Bill Lawry over 50 years ago."

Former CA chair David Peever, chair at the time when Paine was exonerated for the scandal, hit out at the current board.

New chairman Richard Freudenstein claimed the current board would have held Paine to a higher degree of accountability three years ago if he was in charge at the time.

However, Peever questioned how any decisions could be made if the texts were found to be private, consensual and not an act of misconduct.

"Why have a code of conduct if you are going to make up your own rules as you go?" Peever said.

"Cricket Australia's decision seems knee jerk and unfortunately shows double standards.

"This issue has been doing the rounds in cricket circles for some years now.

"The current chairman has been on the board for two years and it is implausible he didn't know about it.

"If he and his board felt so strongly about it, why wait until now to act?"

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