- By Manik Sharma
- Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:20 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Shaun Marsh, the seasoned left-handed batter, has decided to call time on his illustrious cricket career, making the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) clash between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder his farewell match.
Marsh's retirement follows his earlier exit from first-class cricket in March 2023 after representing Australia in 38 Test matches.
Throughout his career, Marsh grappled with inconsistency and injuries, yet his stylish batting always kept the national selectors intrigued. At 40, Marsh, a key player for the Renegades, joins his teammate Aaron Finch in bidding adieu to professional cricket.
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Despite a delayed start in the current BBL season due to injury, Marsh's form has been impressive, amassing 181 runs at an average of 45.25 and a striking rate of 138.16 in just five games.
Expressing gratitude for his time with the Renegades, Marsh acknowledged the special bond with his teammates and the unwavering support from fans.
"I have loved playing for the Renegades, I've met some great people over the last five years and the friendships I've made will last a lifetime. This playing group is special. They've been amazing to me, amazing team-mates and even better friends,” EspnCricinfo quoted Marsh as saying.
"Our members and fans are some of the most passionate out there and I'm so thankful for their support over the journey. Stick with us, there's a huge amount of talent in this group and I have no doubt they'll lead this group back to the top,” he added.
Transitioning to the Renegades in the 2019-2020 season from a prolific stint with the Perth Scorchers, Marsh reminisced about his enjoyable time in Perth, especially the back-to-back titles.
"I owe a lot to the Scorchers, I've got some fond memories of playing in Perth and really enjoyed my time there. The back-to-back titles are up there for me as the most enjoyable moments I've experienced on a cricket field," Marsh said.
As Marsh gears up for his final T20 match, his impressive T20 career boasts 7050 runs at an average of 37.90 and a strike rate of 128.53, including 2477 runs in the IPL for Kings XI. In the BBL, he stands tall as the sixth-highest run-scorer of all time.
Internationally, Marsh scored 2265 Test runs at an average of 34.31, concluding his Test career in January 2019 against India. In ODIs he scored 2773 runs, with an average of 40.77 from 73 matches and seven centuries.