Mohali: Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait on Monday announced his retirement from One-day cricket to concentrate his efforts on the Twenty20 form of the game.
The news reached the Kings XI Punjab team officials first as Tait wants to concentrate on Twenty20 version of the game.
When contacted the Australian cricket board they confirmed it with a statement from the board to Gulf News.
Tait will retire from the Australia and South Australia One-day teams in an attempt to prolong his career.
The 28-year-old said: “I have decided to retire from one-day cricket for both Australia and the South Australian Redbacks. This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I believe it is one that will help me to prolong my cricketing career through the many Twenty20 avenues available. In reality, playing all year round for Australia and South Australia is not allowing my body to stand up as I would like and I do not want to be forced into retirement through career-ending injuries.
Justifying his decision to play Twenty20 he said: “Twenty20 cricket allows me to manage my body to a level where I feel I can continue to contribute to the game for some time yet. My goal was to hopefully help Australia retain the ICC Cricket World Cup. However, with our involvement now finished I feel it is the perfect time to move on in a new direction.”
Recalling his career, he said: “I have many great memories of one-day cricket both for my state and country with the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup obviously being the stand out. Being a member of a team containing so many legends of the game was a true highlight of my cricketing career, while any match a person plays for his country or state is truly an honour not to be taken lightly. “
Tait thanked Cricket Australia for the support. “Cricket Australia has been very supportive of me over the years and again has accepted the decision I have made. I am very thankful for all they have done and I now look forward to the next phase of my career,” he said.
Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s General Manager Cricket, reacting to Tait’s decision said: “Shaun has been an important contributor to Australia’s short form cricket over the last few years. Bowling at the speeds he generates places an unusual strain on his body and Cricket Australia respects the decision he makes today.”
The news reached the Kings XI Punjab team officials first as Tait wants to concentrate on Twenty20 version of the game.
When contacted the Australian cricket board they confirmed it with a statement from the board to Gulf News.
Tait will retire from the Australia and South Australia One-day teams in an attempt to prolong his career.
The 28-year-old said: “I have decided to retire from one-day cricket for both Australia and the South Australian Redbacks. This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I believe it is one that will help me to prolong my cricketing career through the many Twenty20 avenues available. In reality, playing all year round for Australia and South Australia is not allowing my body to stand up as I would like and I do not want to be forced into retirement through career-ending injuries.
Justifying his decision to play Twenty20 he said: “Twenty20 cricket allows me to manage my body to a level where I feel I can continue to contribute to the game for some time yet. My goal was to hopefully help Australia retain the ICC Cricket World Cup. However, with our involvement now finished I feel it is the perfect time to move on in a new direction.”
Recalling his career, he said: “I have many great memories of one-day cricket both for my state and country with the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup obviously being the stand out. Being a member of a team containing so many legends of the game was a true highlight of my cricketing career, while any match a person plays for his country or state is truly an honour not to be taken lightly. “
Tait thanked Cricket Australia for the support. “Cricket Australia has been very supportive of me over the years and again has accepted the decision I have made. I am very thankful for all they have done and I now look forward to the next phase of my career,” he said.
Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s General Manager Cricket, reacting to Tait’s decision said: “Shaun has been an important contributor to Australia’s short form cricket over the last few years. Bowling at the speeds he generates places an unusual strain on his body and Cricket Australia respects the decision he makes today.”
