Shaun Tait (born 22 February 1983) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He played as a right arm fast bowlerShaun Tait – ESPNcricinfo Profile ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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. He is considered one of the fastest bowlers of all time. He was appointed as the bowling coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team in February 2022. He also served as the bowling coach of Pakistan national cricket team between 2022 and 2023.
Tait retired from Test cricket in 2009, and later from One Day Internationals in March 2011,Australia news: Shaun Tait retires from ODIs as a faded force | Australia Cricket News. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 December 2013. to concentrate on playing T20 cricket. In March 2017, Tait announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Bowling style Tait's delivery action was a sling style reminiscent of former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson's action.Thommo welcomes fellow slinger Fox Sport News. Retrieved 12 January 2008Tait a raw talent BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2008Shaun 'hits to hurt' Fox Sport News. Retrieved 12 January 2008 Dubbed "The Wild Thing", during his career Tait was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world,Gillespie, Tait 'ready for Test recall' The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2008Hodge's timing is perfect The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2008 regularly bowling at speeds up to 155 km/h.Tait bearing down on Johnson, Hogg The Australian. Retrieved 12 January 2008Tait looking for opportunity to team up with Lee The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2008 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.Tait leads Australia's great escape ESPNcricinfo retrieved on 6 February 2010Tait sets his sights on India's batsmen Brisbane Times. Retrieved 15 December 2007 Tait has often been described as "erratic" and is capable of bowling many extras, ABC News. Retrieved 15 December 2007 although his unpredictability can be a positive factor in dismissing batsmen.Shaun Tait on Fire The Age. Retrieved 15 December 2007 Tait has also been criticised as being "expensive."Shaun Tait The Age. Retrieved 15 December 2007
After a Twenty20 match against New Zealand on 11 December 2007, in which Tait troubled the batsmen and took 2/22,Australia v New Zealand at Perth ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007 New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and coach John Bracewell publicly raised doubts over the legality of Tait's bowling action.Tait's action under scrutiny by New Zealand ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007 Tait labelled the comments as a "disgrace" and added that he would be willing to undergo tests to prove his action was legal.Kiwi chuck claim enrages Tait Fox Sports News. Retrieved 15 December 2007
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. He took almost 200 first-class wickets 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.South Australia v Western Australia Pura Cup 2002–03 CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 Tait played five matches during his first season, taking 20 wickets at a bowling average of 22.55 runs per wicket. 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.ACB and AIS announce 2003 Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy scholars ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007
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.South Australia v Tasmania ING Cup 2003/04 CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 December 2007 These were the best figures by an Australian in List A cricket, and the eighth-best List A figures of all time.Seven or More Wickets in a ListA Match CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 December 2007 He was selected in the Australia A team to take on the touring India team. He took 3/85 in the Indians' first innings. He once again had a strong Sheffield Shield season, taking 30 wickets at an average of 28.33Bowling in Pura Cup 2003/04 (Ordered by Average) CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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.Tait on his way to Durham. CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 December 2007 His first match was against a Somerset team captained by fellow Australian Ricky Ponting, although he did not take a wicket and bowled 21 no balls in his 12 overs.Durham v Somerset 2004 CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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.The end for Bevan and Bichel? CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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,Bowling in Pura Cup 2004/05 (Ordered by Average) CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 surpassing Clarrie Grimmett's record for most wickets in a season for a South Australian bowler.Tait record helps Redbacks avoid wooden spoon ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007
After missing the opening half of the 2005–06 domestic season with an injury to his right shoulder, sustained on the Ashes tour,Tait and Hogg miss Super Series ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007 Tait struggled on his return, taking only 14 wickets at 38.35 in the four matches in which he was able to play.Bowling averages for Pura Cup 2005–06 CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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,Bowling in Pura Cup 2006/07 (Ordered by Average) CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007 saw him win the Lord Hampden Trophy for South Australia's player of the season.Tait voted South Australia's best ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007
An elbow injury kept Tait out for the opening parts of the 2007–08 Sheffield Shield season,Redbacks wait on Tait ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2007 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.Queensland v South Australia 2007/08 CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2007
International debut Tait was named in Australia's Test squad to tour Sri Lanka in 2004 as a replacement for the injured Brett Lee,Shaun Tait replaces Lee ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008 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 seriesAshes squad set to be named ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008. and made his Test match debut against England on 25 August 2005 at Trent Bridge in the fourth match of the series.The Ashes – 4th Test England v Australia ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2008 Some suggested that Tait should have played in the first Test of the series,Tait waits in the wings ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008 but an injury to Glenn McGrath and the poor form of Jason Gillespie gave Tait his chance later in the series.Tait comes of age ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008 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.The Ashes – 5th Test England v Australia ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008
A shoulder injury ahead of the Super Series against the ICC World XI, saw Tait ruled out of playingTait and Hogg miss Super Series ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008 and despite calls from Jason Gillespie and Ian Chappell for his inclusion in the team for the 2006–07 Ashes series in Australia, he did not get a place in the team with the selectors opting for Stuart Clark.Gillespie urges selectors to pick Tait or Johnson ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008Lee and Tait should bowl together – Chappell ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2008
Tait made his One Day International debut in February 2007 against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series.Australia v England Commonwealth Bank Series – 10th Match ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 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.Australia One-Day Squad Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, 2006/07 ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 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.
Tait was selected in Australia's 15-man squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.Tait and Haddin in World Cup squad ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 Although he was not expected to play a major role in the Australian team, an injury to Brett LeeLee out of World Cup ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 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. Most wickets – ICC World Cup, 2006/07 ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008Tait comes of age to cover Lee loss ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 This included a Player of the Match performance against England in which he claimed 3/41,ICC World Cup – 35th Match, Super Eights – Australia v England ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 and taking 4/39 against a strong South African team in the semi-final.Australia v South Africa ICC World Cup – 2nd Semi Final ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 He went wicketless in a rain affected final against Sri Lanka,Australia v Sri Lanka ICC World Cup – Final ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008 but Australia won the tournament in what was described as the "most dominant campaign" by a team in World Cup history.Gilchrist leads Australia to World Cup treble ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2008