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Nathan Bracken

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Nathan Bracken
Personal information
Full name
Nathan Wade Bracken
Born (1977-09-12) 12 September 1977 (age 47)
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
NicknameBracks, Andy G
Height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 388)4 December 2003 v India
Last Test16 December 2005 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 142)11 January 2001 v West Indies
Last ODI17 September 2009 v England
ODI shirt no.59
T20I debut (cap 14)9 January 2006 v South Africa
Last T20I8 June 2009 v Sri Lanka
T20I shirt no.59
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1998/99–2009/10New South Wales
2004Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 5 116 67 201
Runs scored 70 198 1,007 373
Batting average 17.50 11.64 17.36 9.09
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0
Top score 37 21* 63 21*
Balls bowled 1,110 5,759 13,634 10,105
Wickets 12 174 215 278
Bowling average 42.08 24.36 26.06 26.39
5 wickets in innings 0 2 9 3
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 4/48 5/47 7/4 5/38
Catches/stumpings 2/– 26/– 18/– 37/–
Medal record
Men's Cricket
Representing  Australia
ICC Cricket World Cup
Winner 2003 South Africa-Zimbabwe-Kenya
Winner 2007 West Indies
ICC Champions Trophy
Winner 2006 India
Source: CricketArchive, 19 September 2009

Nathan Wade Bracken (born 12 September 1977) is a former Australian cricketer. A tall left-arm fast-medium bowler, Bracken is capable of swinging the ball both ways. He has represented Australia in all forms of the game. Bracken represented New South Wales in Australian domestic cricket, Eastern Suburbs in Sydney Grade Cricket and also appeared for English County team Gloucestershire in 2004. On 28 January 2011 he announced his retirement from the game due to a chronic knee injury. On 9 February 2012 it was reported that he sued Cricket Australia over the latter's alleged incompetency in managing his knee injury.[1] With his time representing Australia, Bracken won multiple ICC titles with the team: the 2003 Cricket World Cup, the 2007 Cricket World Cup, and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.

Early and personal life

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Bracken with his wife, Haley (2011)

Nathan Bracken was born in Penrith, New South Wales to parents Gordon and Robin.[2] He spent his childhood living in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, attending Faulconbridge Primary and Springwood High School.[3] He currently resides on the Central Coast of New South Wales and is married to Haley Bracken with whom he has 2 children.[2][4] He is also studying for an undergraduate degree in communications.[5] Bracken contested the Australian House of Representatives seat of Dobell as an independent against sitting member Craig Thomson at the 2013 federal election and received an 8.2 percent primary vote.

Domestic career

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First-class cricket

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After a stint at the Australian Cricket Academy in 1997, Bracken made his first-class debut for New South Wales against Queensland on 27 October 1998 at Manuka Oval, Canberra. New South Wales were beaten by an innings and Bracken finished with figures of 0/86 off 41 overs.[6] He played 5 more first-class matches in the 1998–99 season and finished with 11 wickets at a respectable average of 30.36.[7] The 1999–00 season saw Bracken only play one match,[8] however the 2000–01 season was one of great success for Bracken. He finished the season as New South Wales second leading wicket-taker behind Stuart MacGill with 29 wickets at 23.72.[9] As a result of his outstanding season he was rewarded with a place in the Australian squad for the 2001 Ashes tour, a Cricket Australia contract and won the 2001 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award.[3][10]

After recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained on the 2001 Ashes tour, Bracken played 8 matches for New South Wales in the 2001–02 season. He had a successful season once again, claiming 24 wickets at 31.79 and finishing behind Stuart Clark as the second leading wicket taker for New South Wales.[11] 2002–03 was a season that saw Bracken struggle as he only took 16 wickets in 6 matches at a rather expensive 36.62.[12] 2003–04 saw Bracken make his Test debut and as a result, he appeared less frequently for New South Wales. Despite this, he still performed well in the 4 matches he participated in, taking 16 wickets at 24.75.[13] Following this season, Bracken was signed by Gloucestershire to play in the English first-class competition as a replacement for Mike Smith.[14] Bracken only played 2 matches for the club, however he was quite successful and took 5 wickets at 21.20 with best figures of 2/12 coming against Lancashire.[15]

2004–05 was Bracken's best season for New South Wales to date. He played in all 11 matches and took 43 wickets at an average of 18.79.[16] The season contained a number of memorable performances by Bracken including a phenomenal spell of 7/4 off 7 overs to help dismiss South Australia for a mere 29 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 2 December 2004.[17] The figures were Bracken's best ever at the time, and are amongst the most impressive figures seen in Australian domestic cricket history. He also played an enormous part in New South Wales' thrilling 1 wicket win in the final against Queensland, winning Man of the Match. Bracken claimed 6/27 in 13.2 overs to help bowl out Queensland for 102 in their first innings and took an important 2/54 in their second innings.[18] To add to this, Bracken scored an invaluable 11* to guide his team home to their target of 183 after New South Wales were 9/161, still needing 22 for victory.[18] 2005–06 saw a return to the Test team for Bracken and as a result, fewer matches for New South Wales. Bracken still performed strongly in his few games, taking 13 wickets at 17.53.[19] After only playing 2 matches in the 2006–07 season, the Blues enjoyed Bracken's services in their Pura Cup winning 2007–08 season as he appeared in the final and took 22 wickets at 21.22 during the season.[20]

List A cricket

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Bracken made his List A debut for New South Wales against the now defunct Canberra Comets on 31 October 1998 at Manuka Oval, Canberra. New South Wales won the match and Bracken was rather economical taking 0/19 off his 5 overs.[21] After a Man of the Match performance against Queensland in the semi-final of the Mercantile Mutual Cup,[22] Bracken was selected in the New South Wales team to meet Victoria in the final in only his 5th List A game. Bracken was economical, taking 0/28 off his 10 overs however New South Wales still lost the final by 39 runs.[23]

After only playing one match in the 1999–00 season, the 2000–01 season proved to be a successful one for Bracken as he made his One Day International debut and helped New South Wales to win the Mercantile Mutual Cup. Bracken took 11 wickets at an average of 25.00, including figures of 2/43 in the final against Western Australia.[24] He continued his good form into the 2001–02 season, helping New South Wales claim their second consecutive One Day title, this time over Queensland.[25] Bracken took 18 wickets at 21.88 during the season, which included his best List A performance to date, as he took 5/38 against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[26][27] 2002–03 was another successful season for both Bracken and New South Wales, as the Blues recorded their third consecutive domestic One Day title and Bracken claimed 15 scalps at 23.66.[28] Bracken was once again a leading performer in the final, taking 2/35 off his 10 overs as New South Wales cruised to a 7 wicket win.[29]

After three seasons of success, Bracken struggled for New South Wales in both the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons taking 3 wickets at 76.33 and 7 wickets at 44.71 respectively.[30][31] International commitments left Bracken out of the side for a large majority of the 2005–06 One Day season, however he performed well in his limited appearances, claiming 5 wickets at 21.60.[32] Once again, Bracken's international duties kept him out of a large majority of the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons and he took 3 wickets at 54.33 and 5 wickets at 37.80 respectively.[33][34]

International career

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Test cricket

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Bracken made his Test debut for Australia on 4 December 2003 against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a replacement for the injured Glenn McGrath. In a drawn Test, Bracken had a respectable debut Test claiming 1/90 off 26 overs in the first innings and 2/12 off 4 overs in the second.[35] Despite this, Bracken was dropped for Western Australian paceman Brad Williams for the Second Test at Adelaide.[36] The selectors chose Bracken ahead of Andrew Bichel for the final two Tests and in a drawn series that saw most bowlers struggle, he finished with 6 wickets at 58.50.[37]

Due to the strength of fast bowling in Australia, Bracken was kept out of the Test team for nearly 2 years until he was selected in the Australian side for the 1st Test of the 2005–06 Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies in Brisbane. It was in this match that Bracken recorded both his best Test batting and bowling performances to date. In Australia's first innings he struck 37 off 51 balls and in the West Indians' second innings, Bracken claimed figures of 4/48 off 16 overs including the wickets of Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.[38] Despite this good all-round performance, leg spinner Stuart MacGill was favoured by the selectors for the remaining Tests in the series. In December 2005, Bracken played the 1st Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground before once again being dropped in favour of Stuart MacGill.

Bracken has not played another Test since then due to the rise of Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson however in February 2008 he claimed that he was still eager to claim a spot in the Test team.[39] Bracken is considered unlucky by many for his lack of Test starts given his one-day form – leading to comparisons with Michael Bevan.

One Day cricket

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Bracken made his debut for Australia on 11 January 2001 against the West Indies. Although putting in respectable performances with the ball, he could not manage an assured place in the side due to both injuries and the strength of the Australian team.[40] However, after Jason Gillespie was dropped from the national side, Bracken returned for the 2005 ICC Super Series against the World XI. This began the start of a sustained run in the national team and rise of Bracken as an international cricketer.

In the record-breaking fifth ODI during Australia's Tour of South Africa in 2006, Bracken achieved his maiden 5 wicket haul, taking 5-67 off 10 overs.[41] He was the only bowler in the match to concede less than 7 runs an over. From the third ODI of that tour until the 5th match of the Commonwealth Bank series in 2007, Bracken went on a 17 match streak of taking at least a wicket a game.[42] His consistency was rewarded with a place in the 2007 World Cup winning team and took 16 wickets during the campaign.[43]

On 8 February 2008, Bracken achieved his best ever international figures taking 5–47 against Sri Lanka in Sydney. On 8 July Bracken displaced Daniel Vettori as the no. 1 ranked ODI bowler in the world following the series against the West Indies. He was also named in the ICC World ODI team of the year in 2008[44] and awarded Australia's ODI player of the year at the 2009 Allan Border Medal ceremony.[45] Bracken played his last ODI on 17 September 2009 after succumbing to a knee injury and being ruled out of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.[46] This would be his last appearance in Australian colours as the selectors moved on towards younger players. Bracken later announced he would quit from all forms of international cricket on 29 January 2011.[47]

He finished with 174 ODI wickets at an average of 24.36 and proved to be a vital member of the Australian One Day International side during his career. With a combination of accuracy, swing and cutters, Bracken established himself as one of the most effective limited overs bowlers in the world.[47]

Career highlights

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Tests

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Test Debut: vs India at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, 4 December 2003 (cap 387).

One Day Internationals

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One Day International Debut: vs West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 11 January 2001 (cap 142).

Twenty20 Internationals

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Twenty20 International Debut: vs South Africa at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, 9 January 2006 (cap 14).

Awards

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Achievements and records

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Post-career

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After his retirement from cricket, Bracken stood as the Liberal Party's candidate for The Entrance in the 2023 New South Wales state election.[53] He was not elected.

References

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  1. ^ "Bracken sues Cricket Australia over injury". Vcricket.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b Desiatnik, Shane (26 February 2008). "Bracken bowls them over". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2024 – via Newsbank.
  3. ^ a b Nathan Bracken profile ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  4. ^ Bracken bounces in to take up attack The Australian. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  5. ^ Roebuck, Peter (27 October 2005). "New-wave professionals go by the book, studying between wickets". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  6. ^ Sheffield Shield 1998/99 New South Wales v Queensland CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  7. ^ Bowling in Sheffield Shield 1998/99 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  8. ^ Pura Milk Cup 1999/00 Queensland v New South Wales Archived 24 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  9. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2000/01 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  10. ^ ACB announces 2001–2002 contracted players list ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  11. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2001/02 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  12. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2002/03 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  13. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2003/04 (Ordered by Average) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  14. ^ Bracken in line for Gloucestershire debut ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  15. ^ Lancashire v Gloucestershire CricketArchive. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  16. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2004/05 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  17. ^ New South Wales v South Australia Pura Cup 2004/05 CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  18. ^ a b Queensland v New South Wales Pura Cup 2004/05 (Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  19. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2005/06 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  20. ^ Bowling in Pura Cup 2007/08 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  21. ^ Australian Capital Territory v New South Wales CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  22. ^ New South Wales v Queensland Mercantile Mutual Cup 1998/99 (Semi-Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  23. ^ Victoria v New South Wales Mercantile Mutual Cup 1998/99 (Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  24. ^ Western Australia v New South Wales Mercantile Mutual Cup 2000/01 (Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  25. ^ Queensland v New South Wales ING Cup 2001/02 (Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  26. ^ Victoria v New South Wales ING Cup 2001/02 CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  27. ^ Bowling in ING Cup 2001/02 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  28. ^ Bowling in ING Cup 2002/03 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  29. ^ Western Australia v New South Wales ING Cup 2002/03 (Final) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  30. ^ Bowling in ING Cup 2003/04 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  31. ^ Bowling in ING Cup 2004/05 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  32. ^ Bowling in ING Cup 2005/06 (Ordered by Average) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  33. ^ Bowling in Ford Ranger Cup 2006/07 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  34. ^ Bowling in Ford Ranger Cup 2007/08 (Ordered by Wickets) CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2008
  35. ^ Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2003–04, 1st Test ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  36. ^ Border-Gavaskar Trophy – 2nd Test ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  37. ^ India in Australia Test series Averages ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  38. ^ Australia v West Indies, 1st Test, Brisbane ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  39. ^ Bracken Hunts for Test recall ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2008
  40. ^ "Nathan Bracken". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  41. ^ "5th ODI: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Mar 12, 2006. Cricket Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  42. ^ "Bowling records. One-Day Internationals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Cricket Records. ICC World Cup, 2006/07. Records. Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  44. ^ "ICC World ODI Team of the Year 2008 announced in Dubai". icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  45. ^ "Bracken world's best one-day bowler". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  46. ^ "Bracken out of Champions Trophy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  47. ^ a b "Knee injury forces Nathan Bracken to retire". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  48. ^ Nathan Bracken – profile ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2008
  49. ^ Matches in which Nathan Bracken won an award (10) CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2008
  50. ^ Series Awards ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2008
  51. ^ 2006 – One-Day Internationals – Most Wickets ESPNcricinfo. 1 March 2008
  52. ^ Fastest to 100 wickets ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2008
  53. ^ "Bracken pre-selected by Liberals for The Entrance". CoastCommunityNews. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
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