Sydney: Declaring a renewed appetite for the game, fast bowler Shaun Tait will sacrifice raw pace for line and length when he returns to the bowling crease next season.

Recovering from his much-publicised breakdown three months ago, Tait will follow Brett Lee's lead and forgo sheer pace for accuracy to guard against another burnout.

"I can probably be a bit smarter and not bowl at 160 kmph every time," the fast bowler said after a practice session at the Adelaide Oval.

Other than backyard cricket with his mates in the Adelaide Hills, Tait hasn't bowled a ball in anger since his shock departure from the game in January.

If everything goes according to plan, Tait will play in South Australia's season opener in October.

Until then Cricket Australia and South Australia's Cricket Association physios will carefully manage the athlete.

"My body was in pretty bad shape really," Tait said. "Training, games, even waking up in the morning after games off, it was sore."

Tait's absence has pushed him further behind the three first-choice quicks; Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson, and behind even Ashley Noffke, whose stellar all-round year has earned him a trip to the Carribean for Australia's upcoming tour.

But CA's decision to renew his contract shows Tait remains in the selectors' thoughts.

"(The Australian selectors) know what I can do, so as soon as I'm back to bowling full pace it'd be nice to be picked."

Stating he was mentally and physically fit enough to stand up to the rigours of first-class cricket, Tait urged selectors to hold the line on their at times contentious rotation policy to avoid other quicks suffering a similar collapse.

 

Source : IANS