Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff has retired from state cricket after 16 years with Western Australia but will continue playing T20 franchise cricket, where he has found success. The 35-year-old remains available for national selection, having played 17 T20Is and 12 ODIs. His retirement follows a notable BBL career with the Perth Scorchers, where he was the leading wicket-taker last season. Behrendorff, who achieved remarkable feats in first-class cricket despite injuries, plans to focus more on family life, emphasizing the importance of being present for his children. He aims to balance his future cricket commitments with family time.
Behrendorff, who turns 35 in April, is still eligible for national selection, having participated in 17 T20 internationals, the last of which was against the West Indies in Perth a year ago. He also played 12 One Day Internationals from 2019 to 2022.
“It marks the end of an exciting chapter,” Behrendorff stated after announcing his retirement on Wednesday. “It’s been a tremendous experience. I’ve been fortunate to fulfill my childhood dream of playing state cricket and to have represented Australia as well. The WACA has been my home for such a long time.”
After growing up in Canberra, Behrendorff joined WA at the age of 19 and quickly became an integral member of their bowling attack across all formats. He earned five One-Day Cup titles and took 75 wickets, ranking fifth on WA’s all-time list. His last List A appearance occurred at the start of the current season.
In first-class cricket, Behrendorff took 126 wickets at an average of 23.85 from 31 matches, but had to retire from red-ball cricket following the 2017-18 season due to various back injuries.
Prior to his unfortunate injury struggles, Behrendorff was regarded as a potential Test replacement for Mitchell Johnson. Standing at 6 foot 4, his awkward bounce and exceptional swing with the new ball made him an enticing option.
While Behrendorff currently has no immediate T20 franchise plans, he is expected to be in high demand. He previously played a few seasons with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL, and had a standout season in 2023 with 14 wickets. Unfortunately, his hopes of rejoining MI last year were derailed by a freak leg injury he sustained while batting in practice just before the tournament.
Behrendorff also participated in the recent SA20 season, where he collected two wickets in three matches for Pretoria Capitals.
Away from franchise cricket, Behrendorff intends to dedicate more time to his family. “This greatly influenced my decision to retire,” he said. “I understand that I have international commitments and franchise leagues, but I want to be at home and present for my children—especially for activities like school pick-ups and drop-offs.”
“Being able to engage in those moments I often miss, and to spend more quality time with my wife, Juvelle … to immerse myself in family life.”