Australian pacer Doug Bollinger calls it a day

36-year-old former Australia bowler Doug Bollinger announced his retirement from all formats of the game on Monday. The pacer appeared for Sydney Sixers in the recently concluded Big Bash League. The New South Wales-born Bollinger donned the jersey of Australia in all the three formats. With the announcement, the career which lasted for 15 long years comes to an end.

Bollinger made his first-class debut in the 2002-03 season. Although his great run in the season of 2006-07 brought him the national call when the left-hander was selected for the home series against South Africa. He made his debut at Sydney. He represented for the Aussies in the whites in 12 games where he picked 50 scalps averaging 25.92. In the colored clothing, Bollinger played 39 ODIs and 9 T20Is for the Australians and picked 62 and 9 wickets respectively.

Played under some great captains: Bollinger

Bollinger while remembering his first skipper in New South Wales, Steve Waugh said that having Waugh as the first skipper was unbelievable. “I played under some great captains and players for NSW and Australia including Steve, Michael Clarke, and Ricky Ponting. To play for 15 or 16 seasons with the SCG as my home ground has been amazing,” he added.

The retiring 36-year old also said that his journey has been great and that he fulfilled his ultimate ambition of playing the Tests for Australia. “It’s been a great ride. I met so many wonderful people and achieved the ultimate ambition of playing Test cricket for Australia,” said Bollinger.

Praising the medium pacer, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said that Bollinger a fierce competitor on the field. “He was a fierce competitor on the field who gave his all every time he represented his country. He was a skillful bowler who claimed more than 100 international wickets and enjoyed success against the best in the world,” said Sutherland.

Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones too was all praises for the bowler as he called him a larger than life presence on and off the field. “Finishing his career as ninth on the list of NSW first-class wicket takers and playing all three forms of the game for Australia is a remarkable achievement given he did not play cricket until he was 15,” said Jones.

Bollinger thanked everyone at the NSW for supporting him throughout the journey. He said that now he looks forward to his second journey as he will spend his time with his wife and children. The bowlers said that he couldn’t have achieved whatever he has without the support of his family.