A former Aussie cricketer, left-arm fast bowler capable of swinging the ball both ways.Born on 12th September 1977,once the No.1 bowler for the Aussies turned 38 today. This lanky paceman has represented Australia in all forms of the game.
1. In school Nathan was famous for the way he swung the ball and took serious interest in the game. He was always 1st in participating Cricket along his school’s side.
2. Bracken’s performance in 2001-01 domestic season was outstanding. Picked up 29 wickets at an average of 23.72 and gained the second spot in leading wicket-taker of the year. With this amazing performance in domestic circuit, he was awarded with Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2001.
3. Bracken represented Australia in all three formats of the game and in all of his debut matches; he was very economical and picked key wickets.
ODI Debut: vs West Indies (2001), took the wicket of Chanderpaul. Figures: 9-3-30-1
Test Debut: vs India (2003), took three wickets in the match (dismissing Sehwag twice).
T20I Debut: vs South Africa (2006), Figures: 3-0-9-2
4. Bracken’s best ODI figures came against Sri Lanka of five for 47 at Sydney Cricket Ground on February 8, 2008 and continuing the same form towards the end of the year, he climbed to the top of the bowlers’ ranking in ODI. In 2008, Bracken took a total of 31 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 18.16. Not only this, in the same year, he was also named in ICC World ODI XI.
5. After his Test debut in December 2003, Bracken was kept away from the Australian Test team for 2 years due to the amazing fast bowling unit the team had. He was finally selected for the 1stTest of the 2005-06 series against West Indies.
6. In 2009, Bracken was seen spreading awareness about the consequences of speeding, which is biggest cause of death and injuries in New South Wales (NSW) along with NSW Centre for Road Safety and Speed Blitz Bluez.
7. The last time Nathan Bracken was a part of the Australian Test team was back in 2005 against South Africa in the 1stTest before being dropped once to make place for MacGill.
8. A significant part of the World Cup 2007 Australian team, Bracken announced retirement from the international cricket on 29thJanuary 2012, due to his chronic knee-injury, the southpaw had to retire from all forms of cricket.
9. After the cricketing career, Bracken was also involved in politics for sometimes, where he also contested the Australian House of Representatives for Dobell as an independent candidate at the 2013 federal election and got 8.2% primary vote.
10. In March, 2015, Bracken sued Cricket Australia for $1 million over his knee injury and claiming that the board failed to investigate, diagnose and treat, which he suffered before an ODI match against England in 2007. But later after two months in May, he settled his case against the board.
