This will help the redbacks next season

[the joker]

SHAUN Tait has taken his first steps back towards life in the baggy green.

Super-slinger Tait, forced out of cricket due to an exhaustion/stress-related condition in January, has been buoyed by support from former England opener Marcus Trescothick and AFL stars, as well as therapeutic training with a country football team.
Tait's manager, Andrew McRitchie, revealed veteran batsman Trescothick, who withdrew from England's 2006-07 Ashes assault with a depression-related condition, had offered the World Cup enforcer some simple advice.

"Marcus' message was, `hang in there and just realise there is more to life than playing international cricket,' said McRitchie.

"Marcus also went through a tough time in a high-profile situation."

Several AFL figures have offered support to three-Test speedster Tait. Current and former Kangaroos Nathan Thompson and Wayne Schwass are high-profile victims of stress disorders.

"There has been fantastic support from some of the AFL boys and other sportsmen," said McRitchie. "Shaun has their phone numbers whenever he needs them."

A love for the game that catapulted Tait to fame is returning - enhanced by regrouping in his "natural" Adelaide Hills habitat.

'"He is doing a lot of weights and running off his own bat," McRitchie said. "He does it back at his old man's place. General fitness is not going to be a problem.

"He is having a dob a couple of nights a week with his beloved Nairne Rams (football club), which is a great way for him to get back in the mix of sport again."

South Australian Tait, 24, is targeting a return by the start of the 2008-09 first-class season. A best-case scenario would have him competing for a place on Australia's tour of the West Indies in May.

"He could quite possibly put his hand up in readiness for the West Indies but the fact he hasn't played any cricket would probably be held against him," McRitchie said.

"We expect he will be ready to go by game one next season."

Tait's outlook has improved markedly in the past three weeks.

The "Big Rig" returned to the Adelaide Oval changerooms – firstly to honour batsman Matthew Elliott's final game for SA, then former Australian keeper Adam Gilchrist's final one-day outing in the City of Churches.

"Shaun is thinking about what he has to do to get back to playing at the highest level, which is a good sign," McRitchie said.

"If you think back to when he first stepped away, none of those things were in his sights and now they are.

"He wants to be back playing but knows he has a bit of work to do."

In-form Redback Ryan Harris said team-mates had enjoyed catching up with Tait over a few beers.

"He is just taking a break and seems happy," Harris said.

"Whether we get him back this season or next is his decision. Hopefully he does come back next season but he has to be happy with that and his life."

[therisingblues]

Great article Joker.
I guess he knows what the cricket world is all about now, and is hungry to have another crack! Sounds as though he has the ability, perhaps he'll come back a much wiser cricketer and really take the game by the scruff of the neck this time.
On'ya Taity!

[Dogwatcher]

Great work Taity!
I went through a rough trot (admittedly not as bad as Tait's) last season and can kind of relate to what he's going to.
Great to see he's looking ahead.