Nathan Bracken

Nathan Wade Bracken (born 12 September 1977) is a former Australian cricketer.

A tall left-arm fast-medium bowler, Bracken is capable of swinging the ball both ways.

He has represented Australia in all forms of the game.

After a stint at the Australian Cricket Academy in 1997, Bracken made his first-class debut for New South Wales against Queensland on 27 October 1998 at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

New South Wales were beaten by an innings and Bracken finished with figures of 0/86 off 41 overs.

He played 5 more first-class matches in the 1998–99 season and finished with 11 wickets at a respectable average of 30.36.

Bracken made his List A debut for New South Wales against the now defunct Canberra Comets on 31 October 1998 at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

New South Wales won the match and Bracken was rather economical taking 0/19 off his 5 overs.

After a Man of the Match performance against Queensland in the semi-final of the Mercantile Mutual Cup, Bracken was selected in the New South Wales team to meet Victoria in the final in only his 5th List A game.

Bracken was economical, taking 0/28 off his 10 overs however New South Wales still lost the final by 39 runs.

The 1999–00 season saw Bracken only play one match, however the 2000–01 season was one of great success for Bracken.

He finished the season as New South Wales second leading wicket-taker behind Stuart MacGill with 29 wickets at 23.72.

As a result of his outstanding season he was rewarded with a place in the Australian squad for the 2001 Ashes tour, a Cricket Australia contract and won the 2001 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award.

After recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained on the 2001 Ashes tour, Bracken played 8 matches for New South Wales in the 2001–02 season.

He had a successful season once again, claiming 24 wickets at 31.79 and finishing behind Stuart Clark as the second leading wicket taker for New South Wales.

2002–03 was a season that saw Bracken struggle as he only took 16 wickets in 6 matches at a rather expensive 36.62.

With his time representing Australia, Bracken won multiple ICC titles with the team: the 2003 Cricket World Cup, the 2007 Cricket World Cup, and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.

Nathan Bracken was born in Penrith, New South Wales to parents Gordon and Robin (same name as the wife of Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting).

Bracken bowls them over, Blue Mountains Gazette.

2003–04 saw Bracken make his Test debut and as a result, he appeared less frequently for New South Wales.

Despite this, he still performed well in the 4 matches he participated in, taking 16 wickets at 24.75.

Following this season, Bracken was signed by Gloucestershire to play in the English first-class competition as a replacement for Mike Smith.

Bracken only played 2 matches for the club, however he was quite successful and took 5 wickets at 21.20 with best figures of 2/12 coming against Lancashire.

Bracken represented New South Wales in Australian domestic cricket, Eastern Suburbs in Sydney Grade Cricket and also appeared for English County team Gloucestershire in 2004.

2004–05 was Bracken's best season for New South Wales to date.

He played in all 11 matches and took 43 wickets at an average of 18.79.

The season contained a number of memorable performances by Bracken including a phenomenal spell of 7/4 off 7 overs to help dismiss South Australia for a mere 29 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 2 December 2004.

The figures were Bracken's best ever at the time, and are amongst the most impressive figures seen in Australian domestic cricket history.

He also played an enormous part in New South Wales' thrilling 1 wicket win in the final against Queensland, winning Man of the Match.

Bracken claimed 6/27 in 13.2 overs to help bowl out Queensland for 102 in their first innings and took an important 2/54 in their second innings.

To add to this, Bracken scored an invaluable 11* to guide his team home to their target of 183 after New South Wales were 9/161, still needing 22 for victory.

2005–06 saw a return to the Test team for Bracken and as a result, fewer matches for New South Wales.

Bracken still performed strongly in his few games, taking 13 wickets at 17.53.

After only playing 2 matches in the 2006–07 season, the Blues enjoyed Bracken's services in their Pura Cup winning 2007–08 season as he appeared in the final and took 22 wickets at 21.22 during the season.

Retrieved 13 March 2008 He spent his childhood living in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, attending Faulconbridge Primary and Springwood High School.

He currently resides on the Central Coast of New South Wales and is married to Haley Bracken with whom he has 2 children named Chase and Tag.

He is also studying for an undergraduate degree in communications.

On 28 January 2011 he announced his retirement from the game due to a chronic knee injury.

On 9 February 2012 it was reported that he sued Cricket Australia over the latter's alleged incompetency in managing his knee injury.

Bracken contested the Australian House of Representatives seat of Dobell as an independent against sitting member Craig Thomson at the 2013 federal election and received an 8.2 percent primary vote.