Shaun Tait

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	Tests	ODIs
Shaun Tait Australia (Aus)

Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling type	Right-arm fast
Matches	2	7
Runs scored	8	11
Batting average	8.00	11.00
100s/50s	-/-	-/-
Top score	4	11
Balls bowled	288	384
Wickets	5	10
Bowling average	42.00	35.30
5 wickets in innings	-	-
10 wickets in match	-	n/a
Best bowling	3/97	2/45
Catches/stumpings	-/-	-/-
As of March 26, 2007 Source: Cricinfo.com

Shaun William Tait (born February 22, 1983, in Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia) is an Australian Test cricketer.

A right arm fast bowler, Tait made his debut for the South Australian state team in the 2002-03 season, at the age of nineteen after a strong showing in Adelaide club cricket. He was named as Australia's Young Cricketer of the Year for the 2003-04 season and won a call-up to the Australian national squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, although he did not play a game. He was later offered a Cricket Australia contract as one of the top twenty-five players in Australia.

In August 2004, Durham signed Tait for the second half of the English County Championship season. His first match was a rain-affected match against a Somerset side containing Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He had a poor county cricket debut, including 21 no balls and recording a bowling analysis of 0/113 in just 12 overs in Somerset's only innings. His second game was also poor: against Essex at Colchester, he bowled just six overs but conceding 63 runs. Tait returned home without playing again for Durham after being confined to the bench.

Back in Australia in the 2004-05 season, Tait showed that his English experience had not destroyed his confidence. He had a record-breaking season for his state side, taking 65 first-class wickets, to surpass Clarrie Grimmett's 1939-40 record for a South Australian bowler. He was called up to the Australian squad for the Ashes tour of England, and made his Test debut in the fourth Test of that series. He played in the final Fifth Test as well, but was injured upon his return to Australia and did not play in the 2005/06 season.

He made his One-Day International debut on 2 February 2007.

Tait's bowling action is unique, with him twisting his spine almost in a right angle. This allows him to deliver the ball with phenomenal pace around 150km+, including one delivery at 160km/h against New Zealand in an ODI on 4 February 2007. This is tantalisingly close to the magical 100mph barrier, a landmark only Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee have reached. Tait was selected in Australia's 2007 World Cup squad and was impressive in Australia's warm up matches taking 4-33 against England