Beau Casson to retire from all Cricket
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
NSW SpeedBlitz Blues and Australian spinner Beau Casson has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Beau has suffered from a heart condition known as "Tetralogy of Fallot" which required surgery at a very young age. The condition has worsened in recent times and after medical advice Beau has been told that continuing to play cricket could cause the condition to become life threatening. As such, Beau has made the difficult decision to retire from cricket at the age of 28.
Beau had an outstanding career, despite continuing to deal with the effects of his condition.
He played 53 First class matches for Western Australia and New South Wales, taking 123 wickets at 43.04, with a best of 6-64. In addition he was an accomplished lower order batsman scoring 1500 First class runs at an average of 22.38, with a highest score of 99 against South Australia in March 2008.
The 2007-08 season was the crowning glory in Beaus career. He played a major part in New South Wales capturing the Pura Cup, finishing the season with 29 wickets in the competition at 35.13, in addition to adding 485 runs at the outstanding average of 60.62. Beau then had a major influence in the final of the competition, as New South Wales defeated Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He scored 89 in the NSW second innings before picking up 4-126 in the final innings of the match, as Victoria were bowled out for 370 to leave the home side victors by 258 runs.
From here Beau enjoyed a golden run after being selected for the Australian Test tour of the West Indies in May / June 2008, in addition to being awarded his first Cricket Australia contract. Beau then achieved the dream of making his Test debut in the third Test of the series in Barbados, where he produced the second innings figures of 25-3-86-3 to help propel Australia to victory by 87 runs, and a 2-nil victory in the three match series.
From here Beau was surprisingly left out of the Australian tour to India in 2008, where Jason Krejza, Bryce McGain and Cameron White were preferred as spinners.
Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert paid tribute to Beaus career: Beaus decision to retire is very sad news, however, his health is all that matters. He is a popular and respected member of the NSW squad and will be greatly missed. Beau played a major role in NSWs winning of the Sheffield Shield in 2007/08 which culminated in him making his Test debut several months later. We wish him the very best for the future.
Casson was sad about his career coming to an end but proud of what he had achieved: Id like to thank Cricket NSW, and in particular David Gilbert, for the opportunity to represent the Blues. Id also like to thank my team-mates, who I have shared many memories with that I will never forget. Cricket has taken me places that I would only have dreamed of and for that I am very grateful. I will always appreciate the support I have received from my family and my partner Sally, and I look forward to the next chapter in my life.
