Nathan Hauritz Announces His Retirement from All Forms of Cricket
The Australian off-spinner, who played in 17 Tests and 58 ODIs from 2004 till 2010, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Australia offspinner Nathan Hauritz, who played in 17 Tests and 58 ODIs for Australia, has decided to retire from all forms of cricket. The 34-year-old Queensland bowler made his decision following Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash League match against Adelaide Strikers.
Hauritz, who made his debut against India in Mumbai in 2004, impressed by taking 3/16 in the first innings and taking a splendid caught and bowled catch off VVS Laxman to dismiss him for 69. However, he failed to cement his place in the side despite decent performances in Sheffield Shield. Following the retirement of Shane Warne after the Ashes series of 2006, Australia looked for options and Hauritz stepped up.
He picked up 11 wickets in the three Ashes Tests against England in 2009 but was left out for the last two Tests. His omission from the final Test in the Oval, on a track which assisted spinners, was heavily criticised.
His finest moment came in the series against Pakistan in 2010 where he picked up a total 5/53 and 5/101 in the two Tests in Sydney and Melbourne. Overall, he picked up 18 wickets in the series at an average of 23.05 and it seemed Australia had filled up the void left by Warne.
However, a dip in form, combined with injuries and the emergence of Nathan Lyon, resulted in his omission and he was not picked in the national team.
Speaking to Cricket Australia, Hauritz explained his decision to retire. "I competed as hard as I could, but I just felt that me competing as hard as I could wasn't good enough. I wasn't playing and training at that level anymore to get straight into it. I felt the pressure a lot more than I usually had. This year, I felt that if things weren't 100 per cent right - I started to feel I was done - I don't want to go through more heartache.