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Shaun Tait, former Australia international fast bowler, retires from cricket

Tait's Test and ODI career was thwarted by injuries - Action Images
Tait's Test and ODI career was thwarted by injuries - Action Images

Former Australia international Shaun Tait has called time on his professional career after struggling to overcome a chronic elbow complaint.

Two of Tait's three Test appearances came in the memorable 2005 Ashes series but a host of injuries meant he only played first-class cricket for another three years after that.

The fast bowler has been plying his trade exclusively in the Twenty20 format for the last couple of years, representing Glamorgan in last summer's NatWest T20 Blast and was most recently at the Hobart Hurricanes during the Big Bash League.

Tait told cricket.com.au: "I honestly wanted to play a couple more years, whether it was over in the UK or here.

Shaun Tait of Glamorgan bowling in 2016 - Credit: Rex
Tait in action for Glamorgan last summer Credit: Rex

"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.

"The game's getting quicker and better and I'm getting slower and a bit older. It's that simple."

Tait was a key player as Australia lifted their third successive World Cup in 2007, finishing as the second joint-highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps, while 11 of his 35 one-day appearances came in this tournament.

He also featured in 21 T20 internationals, most recently in a couple of matches against India in January 2016.

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