Bichel announces retirement from cricket

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Brisbane, Feb.9 (ANI): Former Australia fast bowler Andy Bichel has announced his retirement from cricket at age 38.

Queenslander Bichel, who played 19 Tests from 1997-2003, decided on Monday to hang up his boots after a long battle with a shoulder injury.

A bustling fast bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Bichel took 58 wickets at 32.24 as he played the bulk of his Tests as the first-change bowler to Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.

But his best performances came in one-day cricket at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa where he starred in comeback victories over England and New Zealand.

Bichel took 7-20 against England and shared in a rearguard 73-run stand with Michael Bevan in a man-of-the-match effort.

He finished the tournament with 16 wickets at 12.31.

The evergreen quick was the Pura Cup player of the season in 2005-06 at age 35 when he led Queensland to the interstate four-day title with a double of 452 runs at 34.76 and 50 wickets at 26.69. (ANI)