Australia fast-bowler Shaun Tait, on Monday (March 27), announced retirement from all forms of cricket.
The 34-year old bowler, whose career was marred by numerous injuries, represented Australia in three Tests, 35 One-Day Internationals and 21 Twenty-20 Internationals, picking up 95 wickets in total.
The right-arm pacer made made his first-class debut in 2002-03 for South Australia against Western Australia. His breakthrough season came a year later when he took 30 wickets in the Sheffield Shield.
He was soon drafted into the Test squad when the team from Down Under toured Sri Lanka for a three-match series in 2004. However, he did not get a chance to make his debut as Australia preferred to play two spinners while Brad Williams was included in the playing eleven for the final Test.
He finally made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge in the 2005 Ashes series. But inconsistency and injuries never allowed him to reach his full potentials in the while flannels and his last Test appearance had come against India in January 2008, before he took an indefinite break from cricket.
One year later, he bid adieu to his first-class career but continued playing in shorter formats for the Kangaroos.
Best known for bowling the second-fastest delivery of all-time, when he bowled a delivery against England at Lord’s that registered at 161.1 kph in 2010, Tait enjoyed a considerable success with the white ball. With 23 wickets to his name, he played an integral part in Australia’s victorious 2007 World Cup campaign. He announced his retirement from ODIs after Australia exited the 2011 World Cup.
Speaking about his retirement decision, Tait said;
“I honestly wanted to play a couple more years, whether it was over in the UK or here. I knew it was going to be difficult getting older to compete with the young blokes. But I didn’t know it was going to be as difficult as it was this year (with the Hurricanes).”
“Pretty much getting left out of the side or not being able to play because of my elbow, either way there’s no point going on with it. I knew during the Big Bash that I was going to finish up.”
“The elbow has pretty much gone off a cliff now, it’s done and dusted. I’m 34 years old and I suppose when you’re not contributing on the field as much as you’d like to, it’s time to finish up.”
He further said that he was finding it tough to keep pace with the modern game.
“If I was still performing really well, I’d probably do it (have surgery and keep playing). But I just wasn’t. The game’s getting quicker and better and I’m getting slower and a bit older. It’s that simple.”
“It’s emotional, there’s doubt about that. The first time when you know you’re going to retire, you look back to when you first started. It seems like it was yesterday, but it’s been 15 years now.”
“It’s probably a cliche that a lot of guys say, but just being with the lads (is what I’ll miss the most). Being with your teammates, having a beer with your teammates in the change rooms, going away on a trip somewhere to wherever it might be.”