Ed Cowan calls time on professional career

Ed Cowan, the opening batsman who played the last of his 18 Tests for Australia back in July 2013, has called time on his professional career after a decade and a half of first-class cricket.

Cowan, baggy green No.427, turned out in 143 first-class matches in Australia and England, scoring 10,097 runs at an average of 41.89, with 25 centuries and 48 half-centuries. In his 18 Tests, he scored 1001 runs at an average of 31.28 with a solitary hundred and six fifties. He also played 98 List A matches for 2984 runs and 16 Twenty20s for 229 runs.

“It's been a wonderful journey and I'm grateful for all those who contributed along the way,” said Cowan at the time of making his decision public. “I'll always cherish the great memories and friendships that the game has afforded me. I feel incredibly lucky to have played around the world with so many great people over such a long period of time.

“I'm indebted to NSW Cricket, which invested a lot of time, money and energy in me from a young age. It's equally as important to recognise everyone at Cricket Tasmania, who were hugely formative in my career. I have loved the game from my earliest days and feel incredibly lucky to still do so.”

Cowan also said that he would continue to play Premier Cricket with Sydney University for the remainder of the season.

Paying his tributes to Cowan, James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said, “Ed has made a great contribution to Australian cricket over the course of his career, at an international and domestic level, and we congratulate him on his achievements.

“Best remembered as a patient and considered opening batsman, the numbers accumulated by Ed during his career reveal the rewards of his perseverance and underscore the reason he is held in high regard by those who he has played with and against.

“We wish Ed all the best in his retirement from cricket and for his future endeavours.”