The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Tait enjoys WC success after initial failures

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Friday, Apr 13, 2007
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Tait enjoys WC success after initial failures

BRIDGETOWN: After playing in the losing side in his first four one-day internationals, paceman Shaun Tait is part of Australia's six-game winning streak at the World Cup.

Australia's understudy to the likes of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, Tait is now a new-ball bowler despite arriving in the Caribbean with an experience of four one-day internationals, all of which Australian lost in the run-up to the World Cup. The inexperienced pacer has quickly matured into a major threat for rival batsmen, underscoring his ability with a three-wicket burst against England in Sunday's game where he emerged the Man of the Match.

``I'm pretty pleased with the way I've bowled. It feels great to have success in my short career, Tait, who made his limited-overs international debut two months ago in a match where he claimed two for 68, as Australia tumbled by 92 runs against England, said.

``It was pretty daunting to walk out in front of a full house at the Sydney Cricket Ground in my first one-day international.

Things did not go as well as I'd expected, but that's past now. I feel a lot more confident bowling now than a few months ago.''

Tait made his Test debut in the 2005 Ashes series in England, but had to wait for 18 months before getting to play his maiden one-day international.

``It's been fantastic to come into the Australian teams in the last couple of years and playing with these guys, especially in the World Cup,'' he said.

``It has helped my game, learning by playing alongside the World's best pacemen. It helps a lot just by observing these guys and bowling in tandem with them.'' Tait, who has taken 10 wickets in six games with at least one every match, said he had worked closely with the Australian team's bowling coach, Troy Cooley, during the World Cup.

``He's got immense knowledge, is a relaxed coach and a relaxed guy,'' said Tait.

In the six World Cup matches he's played in the Caribbean, Tait has come a long way from the limited-overs baptism that was not a memorable experience.

The sturdy pacer got five wickets in four one-dayers, one against England and three against New Zealand — finishing on the losing side in all of them.

``Things did not go well for us in those games, but I'm pretty pleased that we've recovered from those hiccups ahead of the World Cup,'' Tait said. — AP

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