Jason Behrendorff Retires from State Cricket After 16 Years

Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has announced his retirement from state cricket but will continue playing in T20 leagues.

The 34-year-old Behrendorff, who moved from Canberra to Western Australia at the age of 19, is ending his career with 75 wickets in List A cricket and 126 wickets in the Sheffield Shield for his state team. Recently, after the Big Bash League (BBL), he left Perth Scorchers and joined Melbourne Renegades.

He last played for Australia in a T20 match a year ago and in the One-Day format nearly three years ago. Additionally, he has not played for Western Australia since September last year and has decided not to take a state contract for the 2024-25 season.

Reflecting on his journey, Behrendorff recalled moving to Western Australia as a 19-year-old. He stated that now is the right time for him to enter the next phase of his career, though he still has a lot of cricket left in him.

"I have lived my childhood dream by playing state cricket and then representing Australia as well. WACA (Western Australian Cricket Association) has been my home. I have spent my entire adult life here." Behrendorff told cricket.com.au.

"When I first arrived here, I was 19, and now I am almost 35. I have had many amazing moments here. Now, I am moving in a slightly different direction, but that does not mean my cricket career is over. I still have a lot of cricket left in me, but from Western Australia's perspective, it is time to move forward."

Having played in various T20 leagues, Behrendorff recently featured for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 2025. He could now become one of the most sought-after fast bowlers in franchise leagues worldwide.

Behrendorff represented Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL in 2019 and 2023, taking 19 wickets in 17 matches. However, he went unsold in last year's mega auction. Despite this, he could be a valuable replacement option for teams in case of injuries in the upcoming seasons IPL 2025.