19 Facts about Nathan Hauritz - The forgotten Australian spinner

19 Facts about Nathan Hauritz – The forgotten Australian spinner: After Stuart MacGill bid adieu to the game, Australian spin bowling resources were scarce. But Nathan Hauritz showed a lot of promise when he arrived and for a while also became Australia’s leading slow bowler. He gained an unlikely second chance in international cricket in 2008-09, and quickly grew into an able offie who mixed attack and defence successfully. He went on to represent his home state Queensland form 2001 to 2006. Though he is not a big spinner of the ball, control and flight are his major weapons. Let us look at some interesting facts about his life and career.

1. Birth:

Nathan Michael Hauritz was born in Wondai, Queensland on 18 October 1981.

2. First major break:

After representing many club sides in their U-15, 17 and 19 levels, Hauritz was included in the Australian U-19 side for the tours to England and Sri Lanka in 1999-2000

3. Youth Cricket:

In total Hauritz played 6 Youth Tests and 14 Youth One Day Internationals.

4. ODI debut:

After representing Australia at Under-19 level he made his ODI debut in 2002 at the age of 20 against South Africa at Johannesburg.

5. World Cup 2003:

Hauritz was called up for the 2003 World Cup when Shane Warne was ruled out due to drug issues but did not play a single match.

6. A pleasant surprise:

Hauritz was included in Australia’s squad to tour India in 2004 ahead of veteran Stuart MacGill. The reasoning given by selectors was that as they intended to play only one spinner – Shane Warne and MacGill was unlikely to play so they would not lose anything by taking a young spinner instead, in order to give him the experience.

7. Dip in form:

After the series however, his domestic form dipped considerably and it took the Australian selectors more than 4 years to call him back to the national team.

8. Too late:

Hauritz came with credible performance in the first 3 Tests, of the 2009 Ashes but was overlooked for the 4th and 5th which the selectors later admitted was a mistake.

9. Commendable performance against England: 

Hauritz was picked for the ODI series against England, after the 2009 Ashes where he performed well, playing all 7 matches and taking 9 wickets at an average of 28.77.

10. A part of the champion team:

He was also a member of Australia’s title wining Champion’s Trophy campaign in 2009 in South Africa.

11. One to savour:

After Warne was injured Hauritz made his Test debut in the 4^th Test in Mumbai in 2004. He took the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman and ended with match figures of 5/103.

12. Using his valuable time:

In the 2005 off season, Hauritz undertook a stint in the Lancashire League in which he played 24 matches for the Nelson Cricket Club.

13. Test career in numbers:

Hauritz has, almost finished his Test career after 17 Tests with 63 wickets.

14. A memorable year:

During his only full season in international cricket, 2009-10 Hauritz took 33 wickets at an average of 31.54.

15. No mug with the bat:

He averages over 25 in Tests for his 426 runs with 2 noteworthy half centuries.

16. Tough luck:

Hauritz was then left out of the 1st Test at Brisbane for the 2010–11 Ashes series, a series in which he was a certainty to play in favour of Xavier Doherty.

17. The unexpected return:

On the eve of the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2008, Hauritz found himself unexpectedly called into the Australian side, 4 years after making his debut, as Australia looked out for a spinner to replace Shane Warne.

18. ODI career in numbers:

Hauritz was also a key member of the Australian one-day side, averaging more than a wicket a game (63 wickets), and maintained an economy rate of 4.74 in his 58 matches.

19. Big Bash:

The right-arm off-spinner plays for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.