da dobrowin： Tait would be rested from cricket at all levels while he undergoes a program to help him recuperate from physical and emotional exhaustion
Cricinfo staff29-Jan-2008
Shaun Tait: “My love and enjoyment of the game is struggling” © Getty Images
Shaun Tait has walked away from cricket indefinitely, citing physical andemotional exhaustion. Cricket Australia announced that Tait will berested from all levels while he undergoes a programme to help himrecuperate, and the length of it will be dependent on hisprogress.”This is a very difficult situation for me to be in at this time, this isnot an overnight decision but something that I’ve been struggling with forsometime,” Tait said. “A break from professional cricket will hopefullygive me a clear mind and a chance for my body to rest and recover.”My love and enjoyment of the game is struggling due to these issues andif I continue to go on it will be unfair on my team-mates and supportstaff of both the Australian and South Australian cricket teams – and mostimportantly my family and close friends.”During an up-and-down past 12 months, Tait made his ODI debut, played akey role in Australia’s World Cup triumph, finishing the tournament with 23 wickets, had elbow surgery, and returned to the Test teamagainst India in Perth. However, he was nowhere near asdestructive as Australia had hoped at the WACA and failed to claim any wickets.Trefor James, Cricket Australia’s chief medical officer, said: “Afterdiscussions with Shaun and the South Australian Cricket Associationmedical staff it is clear that Shaun needs a break from cricket at alllevels. We’ll be working with Shaun going forward to ensure that whateverassistance he requires is provided to him. Shaun’s personal welfare is ourprimary concern as well as his return to cricket at an appropriate point.”The South Australian Cricket Association’s medical officer, TerryFarquharson, said Tait felt he needed to get away from the game. “Shaunhas experienced recurrent injuries dating back to 2005 with a shoulderinjury requiring surgery, an elbow injury in 2007 also requiring surgery,which has caused him ongoing pain as well as suffering intermittent lowback and hamstring injuries,” Farquharson said.”The combination of his injury history and the demands of being an eliteprofessional cricketer has affected his physical, and significantly, hisemotional well-being. Shaun feels he needs a rest from cricket, and Isupport this, which will allow him to recover both physically andemotionally.”Tait was expected to be a key part of Australia’s CB Series squad afterhis World Cup success. However, his absence will leave Australia with aneven more inexperienced attack, with Glenn McGrath already missing fromthe side that triumphed in the Caribbean.