Rob Quiney to call it time on his cricket career

Former Australian Test batsman Rob Quiney has hinted that he’ll walk away from professional cricket after this summer’s Big Bash League (BBL). He clarified that the ongoing season will be his last. Quiney played two Tests for Australia in 2012 and lost his Victorian contract at the start of this season. In his BBL campaign too, he played just three games for the Melbourne Stars.

The 35-year-old produced his best score of the season with an impressive 36 on Tuesday night against the Sydney Sixers but confirmed that Sunday’s clash against Hobart would almost certainly be his last in top-level cricket.

“I’d say I’m unlikely (to continue). One of the main factors is the way I pulled up this morning. I’m pretty sore. I’m not sure how much more the old body can take, even with the Twenty20 game. I’m ready. I’ve got two young daughters at home who love me. I wouldn’t mind spending some more time with them,” Quiney said.

He also made it clear that he had no plans to remain in the game and take up any coaching role and instead wants to focus on businesses outside of cricket. His journey as a cricketer has been a bizarre one considering he came into limelight when he won five Sheffield Shield titles with Victoria and earned his Australian debut in 2012-13 against South Africa. However, it all went into a downward spiral after he scored nine on debut in Brisbane and then finished with a pair in his second Test in Adelaide. He didn’t return to the national side after that stint.

“It’s a weird one,” he said about his journey. He further added, “I’m so proud that I got to play Test cricket but it’s almost bittersweet in the way it transpired and the way it finished. And that’s something I’m always going to take with me. It’s that little sick feeling in your gut that I wish I had done a little better.”

Another departure for Melbourne Stars

England cricketer Luke Wright has ended his association with Melbourne Stars after spending seven years with the club. Wright, who showed delayed signs of concussion on Tuesday and was therefore left out of Stars’ playing XI for their next game against Sydney Thunder on Saturday, decided to end his stay in the Melbourne-based club after consulting with the team management. He received a couple of blows on the helmet while facing pacer Ben Dwarshius during the team’s eight-wicket loss to Sydney Sixers.

He ended as the Stars’ most capped player in the League, having played 57 matches. During one of his two memorable centuries, a knock of 117, came against the Hobart Hurricanes in January 2012 he also shared the record BBL opening partnership of 172 with Rob Quiney who is also playing his last season with this side.