Nathan Bracken calls it quits

Australian limited-overs specialist Nathan Bracken announced his retirement from cricket in Sydney on Saturday.

The New South Wales left-armer, a key member of Australia's World Cup-winning team in 2007 in the West Indies, played 116 one-day internationals and five Tests, plus 19 Twenty20 internationals.

A reliable seamer who excelled in the shorter forms of the game, Bracken played his last game for Australia against England at Nottingham in September 2009 and cited knee injuries for his decision to call it quits at the age of 33.

Bracken said he had investigated ways to continue playing, but received medical advice that he should retire.

"I really have enjoyed my cricket both internationally and domestically, but unfortunately knee injuries have taken their toll," Bracken said.

"I have had a strong rehabilitation from my last operation and have also looked at altering my bowling action to reduce any further damage in my knee and which would have enabled me to continue playing, but it hasn't responded.

"My doctor has advised that I may require further surgery to stabilise my knee and to enable me to have good use of the knee in the future, but to continue playing first-class cricket is now not an option that I have."

Bracken made his debut for Australia in a one-dayer against the West Indies in 2001 and took 174 wickets at 24.36 in ODIs.

He was the Australian ODI player of the year in 2009 and named in the International Cricket Council World ODI Team of the Year in 2008.

Bracken said he hoped to work in the cricket media.

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