Shaun Marsh retires after 23-year career: Renegades and former Test star calls time

Former Test player and in-form Big Bash star Shaun Marsh has announced closure on a career that spanned from Tom Moody well into the Twenty 20 explosion.

Shaun Marsh says he feels both a sense of relief and sadness as he retires from professional cricket after almost a quarter of a century.

The West Australian great announced on Sunday that Wednesday night’s Big Bash League match between his Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Thunder would be the last game of a career that started some 23 summers ago.

Marsh, 40, played the last of his 38 Tests and 73 one-day internationals in 2019. He continued playing domestically for WA before retiring at the end of last season, continuing into this BBL season with the Renegades, where he moved from the Perth Scorchers in 2019.

Having overcome calf issues, Marsh’s form has not diminished, with the left-hander posting three half-centuries from five innings this season including an unbeaten 64 to lead the Renegades to victory against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.

But the Renegades’ underwhelming season contributed to Marsh’s decision, made during the week, to pull up stumps on his decorated career.

Shaun Marsh has posted three half-centuries from five innings this season for the Renegades. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I probably knew at the start of the season that it was more than likely going to be my last year but look there was no sort of decision made up until probably after our second last game ago,” Marsh said on Sunday.

“We had a nine-day break and went home with the family and just felt right then that this was going to be it.

“It’s probably a sense of relief, but also some sadness as well knowing that it’s all over but sort of leave knowing that you gave everything and it’s the right time to walk away.

“I think just mentally it was more just knowing that I was probably done. My body, even though I feel like I’m batting really well. Just moving around in the field has been a lot harder this year.

“And yeah, I just thought it was the right time now with I guess where we’re at. I think everyone at the Renegades had high hopes this year of being a lot further up the ladder and not making the finals it gives the guys a good chance now to reset and get some younger players in and build around those players.”

Shaun Marsh celebrates after reaching 150 in the fifth Test of the 2017/18 Ashes. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The span of Marsh’s career is extraordinary.

He made his Sheffield Shield debut for WA in early 2001, playing alongside Tom Moody, who was born in 1965. This season he was on the Renegades’ list with young gun Harry Dixon, born in 2005.

Marsh, the son of former Australian opener and coach Geoff and older brother of Aussie star Mitch, said team success with the Scorchers and a breakthrough Shield win with WA two summers ago were among the highlights of his career.

Though his Australian career was a mixed bag, he was proud to have reached the highest level and said he could now fully appreciate how special it had been to play international cricket with his brother.

Shaun Marsh (left) and brother Mitchell Marsh both scored centuries in the same Test in 2018 at the SCG. Picture: AAP.

Asked how he would like to be remembered as a player, Marsh, a popular if quiet teammate through his career, said that authenticity was something he valued.

“I think just being a good person. I’ve always just tried to be myself. I’ve always tried not to be someone I’m not.

“And that’s something that I’m really proud of. And someone that you know, worked hard and gave his best to the team in every game that I played.”

Marsh meanwhile said he was hopeful longtime WA teammate Cameron Bancroft would be presented with another opportunity at Test level at some point despite being controversially bypassed for the series against the West Indies.

“No doubt Bangers will be disappointed. What he’s been able to do over the last probably two or three years in WA cricket has been incredible. I think he’s been probably the leading run scorer over the last three years.

“I think for him, it’s just to go back now and continue to score runs and I’ve got no doubt that he will do that. And if he keeps doing that, then if an opportunity does come up at the top of the order over the next 12 months, hopefully he gets a crack at it.”