George says goodbye his own way – just as he’s done his whole career

George Bailey has represented Tasmania and/or the Hurricanes more than 300 times and he’s done it his own way right to the very end.

Hobart Hurricanes player George Bailey ahead of his last game at Blundstone Arena. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

GEORGE Bailey has always marched to the beat of his own drum, and it was always this quality that so impressed Ricky Ponting.

Friday, at Blundstone Arena playing for the Hurricanes, will be the last chance his myriad of loyal fans will get to see Bailey representing a Tasmanian team live when Hobart hosts the Thunder.

The 37-yer-old will retire from professional cricket after this Big Bash League season to become a national selector, ending a nearly 20-year career with Cricket Tasmania.

But the former Australian T20 and one-day skipper and Tigers and Hurricanes captain has always done it his own way, whether it be his unusual batting stance or his eloquent view on take on cricket devoid of cliches and the obvious.

George Bailey’s career in images

VIEW GALLERY

Ponting, the state’s greatest cricketer, has always admired Bailey’s philosophy on the game.

“You wouldn’t say conventional and George Bailey in the same sentence,” Ponting said

“That’s what I like about him because he’s continually tried to find ways to improve year on year.

“Even things like his unusual stance and after hurting his right shoulder, learning to throw left handed that sort of thing

“He’s been a great of Tasmanian cricket and I know everyone who has played with or against him would say the same thing.”

RELATED: SHADE OF BRADMAN. BAILEY BOWLED FOR A GOLDEN DUCK IN FINAL INNINGS

Bailey said the lead up feels like any other game, but he is in no doubt he has made the right decision.

Sport Cricket Xavier Doherty and George Bailey picked for the Australian Under 17 team

It is no coincidence his time in Tasmanian colours has been a golden age for the state.

Individually he rose to become Australian T20 skipper without playing a game for his nation – just the second man to do so — and was part of a World Cup wining squad and an Ashes whitewash in his brief Test career.

Of seven Tasmanian titles, Bailey was part of six of them, only the state’s first ever trophy – the 1978-79 Gillette Cup – was he not a key part of.

He was instrumental in all three of the state’s Sheffield Shield wins and a further three more one-day triumphs.

TIGERS KEEN FOR WINNING FAREWELL FOR BAILEY

But he said it was not these titles that defined him, as he’s seen plenty of dark days in Tasmanian cricket as well.

“That is the ebb and flow of sport, and I think if you’re playing it purely to win premierships you’ll end up disappointed,” Bailey told the Mercury.

“You need a lot of luck to win them constantly and there are not many playing in any sport where those opportunities happen.

“Winning is certainly great fun and you look back on those years really fondly for a number of reasons but it doesn’t define your career or your enjoyment.

“How much work you are putting in doesn’t change, it certainly hasn’t in my experience where you work harder and you win premierships.

BY GEROGE! BAILEY APPOINTED AUSTRALIAN SELECTOR

“You are constantly working as hard as you can, but you need a lot of things to go your way and that’s where the enjoyment comes.

“You look back and you think all the lucky things that went your way or all those little key moments in years that you win or matches you win tend to land on your side of the net.

“You learn a lot more in the periods where it is hard work, where things aren’t going so well.”

George Bailey from Launceston at the Domain Tennis Centre.

He is saving his full reflections on his career post this BBL campaign, but said his father, John, and former Tigers coach Tim Coyle were the most influential in turning the teenage red head from Launceston into a dynamic middle order batsman capable of playing red and white ball cricket at the highest level as well as dominating in the IPL and BBL.

Bailey, who was a junior tennis and football star representing the state in both sports, will finish his career as Tasmania’s third-highest Sheffield Shield run scorer, leading 50-over run-scorer and second most prolific Hurricane.

But almost as trademark as his often quirky batting stances has been his smile that appears to be a permanent fixture no matter what the situation.

Ponting said this was the secret to his success

“That says a lot about him and how he’s stayed so long in the game because of that attitude that he’s had towards the game,” Ponting said.

“If you get down on yourself or frustrated in cricket it can drag you down pretty quickly.

“But for him to stay in the game as long as he has had with his longevity and the success that he’s had particularly in the back half of his career that says a lot about his attitude towards the game.”

[e-mail]

Stream over 50 sports live and any time on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25 a month. No lock-in contract.
Get your 14-day free trial now