Kolkata: The Indian cricket team is one that continues to produce fine batsmen and spinners, but the fast bowling department is one that isn’t exactly its forte. However, its quest for an express fast bowler might have just got a massive boost after Australian pacer Shaun Tait (34) revealed he was now an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
The tearaway pacer posted a picture of his OCI passport on Twitter to reveal the news. The Australian cricketer had married Indian model, Mashoom Singha in June 2014. A member of the 2007 ODI World Cup winning Australian team, Tait started dating the Indian model while playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rajasthan Royals in 2010. The duo dated for four years before tying the knot with Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan attending the event.
The pacer known most famously for bowling at over speeds of over 150 kmph on a regular basis even hit the 161.1 kmph during an ODI against England at Lord’s back in 2010. He had also touched 160.7 kmph in a T20 International against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The South Australian pacer has appeared in a total of three Tests two of which were in the famous 2005 Ashes aside from 35 ODIs and 21 T20Is.
Tait’s Test career came to a grinding halt in 2008, while his ODI stint ended in 2011. The pacer’s last game in Australian colours was a T20 International against India in January 2016. Fans might be excited by the news and hope that Tait will now don Team India colours.
However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules clearly state that a player needs to wait for at least four years after playing his last international to represent another country. So with Tait playing his last game for Australia in 2016, he will have to wait till 2020 to play for India, by which time he will be 38. Will the Indian cricket team be needing the services of a 38-year-old quickie in 2020 ? We simply have to wait and watch.
(With inputs from The Statesman)