New South Wales and former Australian spinner Beau Casson has retired from all forms of cricket due to his ongoing battle with a heart condition.
Having undergone surgery at a young age for an ailment known as 'Tetralogy of Fallot', Casson's health worsened in recent times.
He received medical advice that continuing to play cricket could cause the condition to become life threatening, prompting his decision to retire aged just 28.
Casson made his one and only appearance for Australia in the third Test against the West Indies in Barbados in 2008, where he took 3 for 86 with his left-arm chinamen in Australia's 87-run win.
He was surprisingly left out of the tour to India later that year, where Jason Krejza, Bryce McGain and Cameron White were preferred as spinners.
Casson played 53 first-class matches for Western Australia and New South Wales, taking 123 wickets at 43.04, with a best of 6 for 64.
He was also an accomplished lower-order batsman, scoring 1,500 first-class runs at an average of 22.38, with a highest score of 99 against South Australia.
Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert paid tribute to Casson's career.
"He is a popular and respected member of the New South Wales squad and will be greatly missed," he said.
"We wish him the very best for the future."
Casson said he was proud of what he had achieved.
"Cricket has taken me places that I would only have dreamed of and, for that, I am very grateful," he said in a statement.
"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."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia First posted November 22, 2011 18:04:05
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