Published: Apr 01, 2016, 05:39 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 01, 2016, 05:39 PM (IST)
Former Australian speedstar from Victoria, Clint McKay on Friday announced his retirement from International and First-Class cricket in Australia. However, he mentioned that he would still continue to play domestic cricket for Leicestershire in England. McKay, who won the Sheffield Shield for Victoria last week, called curtains on his 11-year international and first-class career for Australia. McKay has played just a Test for Australia in 2009, against the West Indies, including six Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and 59 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He was a familiar face in 2009, especially after he claimed the important wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, in his debut ODI game at Hyderabad, before playing his last game in 2014, where he claimed a hat-trick against England, reports cricket.com.au. Clint McKay signs up for Leicestershire
In 2013, he was also named the Australian Cricketer of the Year during the Allan Border Medal awards ceremony. However, he was disappointed at being unable to play long international cricket for Australia. “Yeah it was difficult to take. But that’s sometimes how things pan out. I didn’t have a great series of India [in 2013] and that was the beginning of the end [of my international career]. I came back to Australia and had a good summer – I only played three games but I did quite well in two of those three games,” he said.
“It was a little disappointing to lose my spot but the young generation coming through have got some superstars in the making. They were performing quite well and it was great for them to get their opportunity. It was disappointing that it had to come at my expense but it’s just one of those things that happens in the pressure of sport,” he added.
Among the greatest features of McKay’s bowling were back-of-the-hand slower ball, along with a good seam movement, without any extra pace. It also allowed him to win the 2015-16 Big Bash League (BBL) with Sydney Thunder, as he finished as the top wicket-taker, while he would play for them the next season as well. However, he missed out on Victoria’s side during the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield season, which they ended on a winning note.
“If the team hadn’t been so successful, it would have been a lot harder to take. But we’ve got some great young guys coming through and also some senior heads, so it’s actually quite a hard side to cement your spot in. You look at the guys who’ve played in the last two Shield finals – you’ve got James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and John Hastings who are Australian bowlers, and this year you’ve seen the younger guys in Scott Boland and Chris Tremain step up,” he said.
“So the attack has been amazing and when one goes down [through national duties or injury], there’s another there to take their place. It has been a little bit difficult [being out of the side], but in some respects helping out the younger guys coming through and seeing them forge their own careers is quite a good feeling as well,” he added.
McKay was also a part of the Victoria’s 2008-09 Sheffield Shield winning side, and also played vital role during his stint with Indian Premier League IPL franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) and the following season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He also claimed 81 wickets for Leicestershire in all formats during the 2015-16 season and would again be available for them this season as well.
