Despite not having a state contract, the wicket-keeper returned to play for Tasmania this season and also made one Big Bash League appearance for the Hobart Hurricanes.
“I just wanted to have another year with Tassie and end it on a positive note with some good memories,” Paine told reporters in Hobart. “To come back and do that, it was nice to finish on my own turf.”
Playing in the club’s premier league final at the University of Tasmania from Friday, Paine said it had been an emotional time since telling his teammates about his retirement.
“My phone has gone crazy, including from all over the world, which is nice,” he said. “I got a little emotional reading some of the posts and things on social media that people have sent.
“I joined Cricket Tasmania when I was 12 years old… 26 years ago, which is a long time.
“It’s an emotional time when you move on to something you enjoy doing and care deeply about, but I will still be involved in the game of cricket.”
Paine said his Test debut, against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, and winning Tasmania’s first Sheffield Shield title in 2006–07 were career highlights.
“To play in that [Tasmania] team with Damien Wright, Michael Di Venuto and Dan Marsh and guys that I look up to who have long careers and can never win, I think that was a real moment that I will never forget,” he said.
“For myself and George Bailey and Hilfy [Ben Hilfenhaus] to get on that side and help those older guys win a Sheffield Shield… was something I will hold onto very closely for the rest of my life.
Paine said he would continue to play club cricket and has had talks with Cricket Tasmania about a non-playing role.
He represented Australia in 35 Tests and 35 one-day internationals, playing 154 first-class matches.
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