New South Wales has given good cricketers to the Australian team over the years, and Nathan Bracken is one of them. The left-arm seamer made a slow start to his international career but made rapid strides to cement his place in the team.

With a tall and lean physique, the left-armer holds the ability to move the ball both ways. Bracken is a valuable asset to bowl in the death overs and his cunning variations make him a tough prospect to bat against. Making his ODI debut in 2001, this New South Wales cricketer became a vital cog in the Australian one-da y set up. Bracken’s Test career, though, was relatively short-lived. Frequent injuries to the knees kept him out of the Test set up for a long time. However, he returned to play for NSW, but was unfortunately dropped from Cricket Australia’s list of contracted players.

Bracken did supremely well in the ODI format; from being the world’s second highest wicket-taker in 2006 with 46 scalps, to being the No.1 ranked ODI bowler in 2008 – he was instrumental in much of Australia’s success in crucial times.

Finally, in 2011, injuries took their toll on Bracken and he could no longer bear the brunt, announcing his retirement from all forms of the game. He finished with 174 wickets in ODIs.