Australia paceman Shaun Tait retires from one-day cricket

Australia paceman Shaun Tait has announced his retirement from one-day cricket.

The 28-year-old, a 2007 World Cup winner and part of the squad knocked out of the tournament on the sub-continent last week, will quit both international and domestic 50-over cricket to focus on the Twenty20 format.

"I have decided to retire from one-day cricket for both Australia and the South Australian Redbacks," said Tait, who plays in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals and will also represent Surrey in England in the shortest format this year.

"This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I believe it is one that will help me to prolong my cricketing career through the many Twenty20 avenues available.

"In reality, playing all year round for Australia and South Australia is not allowing my body to stand up as I would like and I do not want to be forced into retirement through career-ending injuries.

"Twenty20 cricket allows me to manage my body to a level where I feel I can continue to contribute to the game for some time yet."

Defending champions Australia were knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage by co-hosts India.

"My goal was to hopefully help Australia retain the ICC Cricket World Cup," Tait said. However, with our involvement now finished I feel it is the perfect time to move on in a new direction.

"I have many great memories of one-day cricket both for my state and country with the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup obviously being the stand out.

"Being a member of a team containing so many legends of the game was a true highlight of my cricketing career, while any match a person plays for his country or state is truly an honour not to be taken lightly.

"Cricket Australia has been very supportive of me over the years and again has accepted the decision I have made. I am very thankful for all they have done and I now look forward to the next phase of my career."

Cricket Australia general manager Michael Brown said: "Shaun has been an important contributor to Australia's short form cricket over the last few years.

"Bowling at the speeds he generates places an unusual strain on his body and Cricket Australia respects the decision he makes today."