Shaun Tait

Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox cricketer Shaun Tait (born 22 February 1983) is a former Australian professional cricketer who was appointed as the bowling coach of the Pakistan national cricket team in February 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played as a right arm fast bowler<ref name="tait">Shaun Tait – ESPNcricinfo Profile ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> and represented Australia in all three forms of cricket, but had most success in One Day Internationals, in which he was a member of Australia's undefeated team at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, and Twenty20 cricket. Tait won four different awards throughout his career including the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is considered one of the fastest bowlers of all time. He is currently the Fast bowling coach of Bangladesh national cricket team

Tait retired from Test cricket in 2009,<ref name="fc-retired" /> and later from One Day Internationals in March 2011,<ref>Australia news: Shaun Tait retires from ODIs as a faded force | Australia Cricket News. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> to concentrate on playing T20 cricket. In March 2017, Tait announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.<ref name="retire">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Bowling style

Tait's delivery action was a sling style reminiscent of former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson's action.<ref>Thommo welcomes fellow slinger Fox Sport News. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref><ref>Tait a raw talent BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref><ref>Shaun 'hits to hurt' Fox Sport News. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref> Dubbed "The Wild Thing", during his career Tait was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world,<ref>Gillespie, Tait 'ready for Test recall' The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref><ref>Hodge's timing is perfect The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref> regularly bowling at speeds up to 155 km/h.<ref>Tait bearing down on Johnson, Hogg Template:Webarchive The Australian. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref><ref>Tait looking for opportunity to team up with Lee The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2008</ref> During a Twenty20 international match in February 2010 Tait bowled a ball measured at 160.7 km/h, the fastest ball ever recorded in Australia.<ref>Tait leads Australia's great escape ESPNcricinfo retrieved on 6 February 2010</ref><ref>Tait sets his sights on India's batsmen Brisbane Times. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait has often been described as "erratic" and is capable of bowling many extras,<ref>Tait to make big impact at Cup: Ponting ABC News. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> although his unpredictability can be a positive factor in dismissing batsmen.<ref name="tait"/><ref>Shaun Tait on Fire The Age. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait has also been criticised as being "expensive."<ref>Shaun Tait The Age. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

After a Twenty20 match against New Zealand on 11 December 2007, in which Tait troubled the batsmen and took 2/22,<ref>Australia v New Zealand at Perth ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and coach John Bracewell publicly raised doubts over the legality of Tait's bowling action.<ref>Tait's action under scrutiny by New Zealand ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait labelled the comments as a "disgrace" and added that he would be willing to undergo tests to prove his action was legal.<ref>Kiwi chuck claim enrages Tait Fox Sports News. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

Early career

Tait played for South Australia throughout his first-class career, also playing for Australia A and, in 2004, for Durham County Cricket Club in England.<ref name="tait"/> He took almost 200 first-class wickets<ref name="tait"/> after making his first-class debut at the age of 19 against Western Australia in December 2002 at Adelaide Oval. He only bowled in one innings on debut, taking three wickets for the cost of 77 runs (3/77) from 22.2 overs.<ref>South Australia v Western Australia Pura Cup 2002–03 Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait played five matches during his first season, taking 20 wickets at a bowling average of 22.55 runs per wicket.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made his List A debut in February 2003 and as a result of his strong first season, was awarded a place at the Australian Cricket Academy alongside players such as Ben Hilfenhaus and Luke Ronchi.<ref>ACB and AIS announce 2003 Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy scholars ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

Tait was South Australia's leading wicket taker, and the second leading wicket taker overall in the 2003–04 ING Cup with 18 wickets at an average of 19.61. The highlight of his season was his record-breaking haul of 8/43 against Tasmania on 9 January 2004.<ref>South Australia v Tasmania ING Cup 2003/04 Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 December 2007</ref> These were the best figures by an Australian in List A cricket, and the eighth-best List A figures of all time.<ref>Seven or More Wickets in a ListA Match Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 December 2007</ref> He was selected in the Australia A team to take on the touring India side. He took 3/85 in the Indians' first innings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He once again had a strong Sheffield Shield season, taking 30 wickets at an average of 28.33 <ref>Bowling in Pura Cup 2003/04 (Ordered by Average) Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> and he was awarded the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award.

In July 2004, Tait was signed by Durham County Cricket Club for the second half of the English County Championship season.<ref>Tait on his way to Durham. CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 December 2007</ref> His first match was against a Somerset side captained by fellow Australian Ricky Ponting, although he did not take a wicket and bowled 21 no balls in his 12 overs.<ref>Durham v Somerset 2004 Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait only played one more first-class match for Durham before returning to Australia.

Tait was awarded his first Cricket Australia central-contract for the 2004–05 season, being included ahead of Queensland fast bowler Andy Bichel.<ref>The end for Bevan and Bichel? CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait repaid the selectors' faith in him by having his best season to date; he took 65 first-class wickets at an average of 20.16,<ref>Bowling in Pura Cup 2004/05 (Ordered by Average) Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> surpassing Clarrie Grimmett's record for most wickets in a season for a South Australian bowler.<ref>Tait record helps Redbacks avoid wooden spoon ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

After missing the opening half of the 2005–06 domestic season with an injury to his right shoulder, sustained on the Ashes tour,<ref>Tait and Hogg miss Super Series ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Tait struggled on his return, taking only 14 wickets at 38.35 in the four matches in which he was able to play.<ref>Bowling averages for Pura Cup 2005–06 CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> Despite this, he was still named as part of the Australia A squad to play in the 2006 Top End Series. A strong season in 2006–07, taking 29 wickets at 27.10,<ref>Bowling in Pura Cup 2006/07 (Ordered by Average) Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> saw him win the Lord Hampden Trophy for South Australia's player of the season.<ref>Tait voted South Australia's best ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

An elbow injury kept Tait out for the opening parts of the 2007–08 Sheffield Shield season,<ref>Redbacks wait on Tait ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref> however, upon recovery, a match against Queensland at the Brisbane Cricket Ground saw him take his first 10-wicket haul. He took 3/69 in the first innings and 7/29 in the second, his best first-class figures.<ref>Queensland v South Australia 2007/08 Template:Webarchive CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007</ref>

International debut

Tait was named in Australia's Test squad to tour Sri Lanka in 2004 as a replacement for the injured Brett Lee,<ref>Shaun Tait replaces Lee ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> although he did not play in a Test on the tour. After an impressive domestic summer, in April 2005 he was named in Australia's squad to tour England for the 2005 Ashes series<ref>Ashes squad set to be named ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008.</ref> and made his Test match debut against England on 25 August 2005 at Trent Bridge in the fourth match of the series.<ref>The Ashes – 4th Test England v Australia ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2008</ref> Some suggested that Tait should have played in the first Test of the series,<ref>Tait waits in the wings ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> but an injury to Glenn McGrath and the poor form of Jason Gillespie gave Tait his chance later in the series.<ref>Tait comes of age ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> Tait bowled 24 overs and took 3/97 in his first innings, the best figures of any Australian fast bowler in the match. While he went wicketless in the second innings, he held his spot to play in the final Test of the Ashes series at The Oval, taking 1/61 in the first innings and 1/28 in the second.<ref>The Ashes – 5th Test England v Australia ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref>

A shoulder injury ahead of the Super Series against the ICC World XI, saw Tait ruled out of playing<ref>Tait and Hogg miss Super Series ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> and despite calls from Jason Gillespie and Ian Chappell for his inclusion in the side for the 2006–07 Ashes series in Australia, he did not get a place in the team with the selectors opting for Stuart Clark.<ref>Gillespie urges selectors to pick Tait or Johnson ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref><ref>Lee and Tait should bowl together – Chappell ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref>

Tait made his One Day International debut in February 2007 against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series.<ref>Australia v England Commonwealth Bank Series – 10th Match ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> Later that month, he was selected as a part of Australia's squad to take on New Zealand for the 2006–07 Chappell–Hadlee Trophy in New Zealand.<ref>Australia One-Day Squad Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, 2006/07 ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> Tait was selected for the final two games of the series, taking two wickets as New Zealand chased down scores of over 300 twice and whitewashed a strong Australian team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tait was selected in Australia's 15-man squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.<ref>Tait and Haddin in World Cup squad ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> Although he was not expected to play a major role in the Australian side, an injury to Brett Lee<ref>Lee out of World Cup ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> meant that a relatively inexperienced Tait assumed Lee's mantle as the spearhead of the bowling attack. Despite the added pressure, Tait performed to much acclaim in the World Cup, finishing the tournament as the equal second leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets at an average of 20.30.<ref>Most wickets – ICC World Cup, 2006/07 ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref><ref>Tait comes of age to cover Lee loss ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> This included a Player of the Match performance against England in which he claimed 3/41,<ref>ICC World Cup – 35th Match, Super Eights – Australia v England ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> and taking 4/39 against a strong South African team in the semi-final.<ref>Australia v South Africa ICC World Cup – 2nd Semi Final ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> He went wicketless in a rain affected final against Sri Lanka,<ref>Australia v Sri Lanka ICC World Cup – Final ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref> but Australia won the tournament in what was described as the "most dominant campaign" by a team in World Cup history.<ref>Gilchrist leads Australia to World Cup treble ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref>

File:Shaun Tait bowling.jpg

Tait bowling in the Adelaide Oval nets, January 2009

Tait was selected in the 13-man squad for Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in November 2007,<ref>MacGill, Hogg and Jaques in Test squad ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> however his ongoing elbow injury forced him out, being replaced by Ben Hilfenhaus.<ref>Hilfenhaus replaces injured Tait ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 April 2008</ref> Having returned to fitness in December, he once again earned a spot in the Australian squad, this time for the series against India.<ref>Hogg and Tait push for Test place ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref> While there was some suggestion that Australia might use Tait in a four pronged pace-attack as early as the first Test,<ref>Fit Tait pushes case for all-out pace attack against India The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2008</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> spinner Brad Hogg was selected over Tait for the first two Tests. Tait was eventually chosen in place of Hogg for the third Test, with the WACA wicket expected to suit his fast bowling. He went wicketless; his claims to "bowl over" the Indian team had backfired and he announced that he would take an indefinite break from cricket after the match.<ref>Tait expects to be dropped ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 April 2008</ref>

Sabbatical

In January 2008, Tait announced that he would take an indefinite break from cricket, citing being physically and emotionally exhausted. He stated, "A break from professional cricket will hopefully give me a clear mind and a chance for my body to rest and recover."<ref>AAP (2008). Test bowler Tait quits cricket. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> In March he said he was "feeling normal again" and was aiming for a comeback at the start of the 2008–09 season.<ref>Happier Tait on slow road to recovery ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 April 2008</ref><ref>Tait eyes start of next season for comeback ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 April 2008</ref> He was awarded a central-contract for the season.<ref>Bollinger and Marsh receive contracts ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 April 2008.</ref>

In February 2009, the Rajasthan Royals of the Indian Premier League bought Tait,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although he later withdrew from the tournament following an injury. In May 2009 Cricket Australia announced that Tait would not have his contract renewed for the 2009–10 season. Tait described this as "a kick in the teeth".<ref>A kick in the teeth, says disillusioned Tait ABC News. Retrieved 15 May 2009</ref> Following the withdrawal of Andrew Symonds' contract after he was sent back from Britain before the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, Tait was given a replacement contract.

2010 to retirement

In 2009, Tait gave up first-class cricket indefinitely<ref name="fc-retired">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to focus on the shorter forms of the game. He played in Australia's one-day squad in 2010 and rejoined the Australian one-day squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, playing in seven games and taking 11 wickets before the side lost to India in the quarter-finals. Following Australia's exit from the tournament, Tait announced his retirement from 50-over cricket, stating that he intended to focus on playing Twenty20 cricket.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He played in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan between 2010 and 2013, in the Australian Big Bash League for Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes, in the United Kingdom for Glamorgan and Essex County Cricket Clubs and for sides in a number of other leagues around the world until his retirement from cricket in 2017. During the 2015–16 Big Bash season, he bowled an economical spell of 3/16 for Hobart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was recalled to the national team for the T20 International series against India, but missed selection for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 after failing to take a wicket in the two matches he played.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tait announced his retirement from playing in March 2017 due to a chronic elbow injury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Coaching

File:Shaun Tait coaching AFG cricket team.jpg

Tait as bowling consultant of the Afghanistan cricket team in 2021

In August 2021 Tait was appointed as a bowling consultant to the Afghanistan national cricket team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the end of the same year he resigned from the post<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in February 2022 was appointed as the bowling coach of the Pakistan national cricket team for 12 months.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Currently appointed as a bowling coach of Bangladesh national cricket team

Career best performances

	Bowling
	Score	Fixture	Venue	Season
Test	3/97	Australia v England	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	2005<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 25–28 August 2005 - Australia tour of England and Scotland, 2005 - England v Australia">Template:Cite news</ref>
ODI	4/39	Australia v South Africa	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia	2006/07<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 25 April 2007 - ICC World Cup, 2007: 2nd Semi-Final - Australia v South Africa">Template:Cite news</ref>
T20I	3/13	Australia v Pakistan	MCG, Melbourne	2009/10<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 5 February 2010 - Pakistan tour of Australia, 2009/10 - Australia v Pakistan">Template:Cite news</ref>
FC	7/29	South Australia v Queensland	Gabba, Brisbane	2007/08<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 30 November – 2 December 2007 - Pura Cup, 2007/08 - QLD v SA">Template:Cite news</ref>
LA	8/43	South Australia v Tasmania	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	2003/04<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 9 January 2004 - ING Cup, 2003/04 - SA v TAS">Template:Cite news</ref>
T20	5/32	South Australia v Royal Challengers Bangalore	M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore	2011/12<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 5 October 2011 - Nokia Champions League T20, 2011/12 - South Australia v Royal Challengers Bangalore">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

In August 2013, Tait became engaged to Indian model and entrepreneur Mashoom Singha.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Shaun Tait gets engaged to model-turned-businesswoman Mashoom Singha | Cricket | NDTVSports.com Template:Webarchive. Sports.ndtv.com (10 August 2013). Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> They were married in June 2014 in Mumbai.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2017, Tait announced that he had become an overseas citizen of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards

• Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: 2004
• Lord Hampden Trophy: 2007
• ICC Emerging Player of the Year: 2007
• Australian Cricketers' Association All-star Ford Ranger Cup team: 2007–08

External links

• Template:ESPNcricinfo