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Shaun Tait to take extended break from game

"A break from professional cricket will hopefully give 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."

Shaun Tait, Australia fast bowler

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait will take an extended break from cricket while he recovers from physical and emotional exhaustion, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

A statement said Tait, 24, "will be rested from cricket while he undergoes a program designed to facilitate his return."

Tait took 23 wickets at last year's World Cup won by Australia, but has suffered a variety of injuries in the past two years. He was named the International Cricket Council's emerging player of the year for last year.

"This is a very difficult situation for me to be in at this time, this is not an overnight decision but something that I've been struggling with for some time," Tait said.

"A break from professional cricket will hopefully give 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 and if I continue to go on it will be unfair on my teammates and support staff of both the Australian and South Australian cricket teams -- and most importantly my family and close friends," he said.

"If my privacy can be respected until I've worked through my current situation that would be much appreciated," Tait said.

Trefor Janes, Cricket Australia chief medical officer, said that after discussions with Tait and the South Australian Cricket Association medical staff, "it is clear that Shaun needs a break from cricket at all levels."

"We'll be working with Shaun going forward to ensure that whatever assistance he requires is provided to him," Janes said. "Shaun's personal welfare is our primary concern as well as his return to cricket at an appropriate point."

Terry Farquharson, medical officer for the South Australian Cricket Association, said Tait has experienced recurrent injuries back to 2005.

"A shoulder injury requiring surgery and an elbow injury in 2007 also requiring surgery has caused him ongoing pain as well as suffering intermittent low back and hamstring injuries," Farquharson said.

"The combination of his injury history and the demands of being an elite professional cricketer has affected his physical, and significantly, his emotional well-being. Shaun feels he needs a rest from cricket and I support this, which will allow him to recover both physically and emotionally," he said.
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