Bowing out at the top

This, it seems, is the year for blond Australian bowling legends to retire. First Warne and McGrath said goodbye, now it's time to thank Cathryn Fitzpatrick, their peerless fast bowler, for her contribution. Like Shane and Glenn, she will be missed and, like Shane and Glenn, she'll be hard to replace.

Her retirement was just as shocking as theirs. Of course it was inevitable, as she's now nearing 40, yet, as with Warnie, all along you still secretly clung on to the child-like hope that somehow they would go on forever, in some cricketing NeverNeverLand. But then came confirmation that she is, after all, mortal. She retired. "You can't keep playing forever," she confessed.

Yet it seemed that she would. Even immediately prior to her bowing out, she was at the peak of powers in the World Series in India, as fit now as she was when she first hurled down one of her 75mph rockets for Australia a whopping 16 years ago. Sixteen years at international level is impressive enough for a male, but for a female - often forced to put their 'real' career on hold, or with thoughts turning to a family - it's remarkable.

For those who faced her, those 16 years of being the world's outstanding female pace bowler would have felt like 60. Charlotte Edwards, England's captain and formidable batsman, enjoyed many a duel with the woman they called the female Brett Lee, although perhaps Brett Lee was the male Fitzpatrick. "It was always a challenge to face her," says Edwards. "You always knew that you had to raise your game. I looked forward to it, though, because you always knew you were going to be tested."

Fitzpatrick was certainly Lee in style, tearing in, pinging them down and watching the stumps cartwheel. But she also had the fierce economy of McGrath - 1.91 in Tests and 3.01 in one-dayers. Her 180 ODI wickets came at a ridiculously economic 16.79. The numbers just keep stacking up: she was also the first bowler to 150 one-day wickets, and finished with 180 from her 109 one-dayers at an impressive strike-rate of 33.42. At state level, she also holds the record for most wickets in a career, with 198 for Victoria.

When she did retire it was on an inevitable high, after helping Australia win the World Series, and as a two-time World Cup winner. She could have gone on longer. So why didn't she? "There are only so many pre-seasons you can do."

Her departure leaves a gaping hole in Australia's attack, with no obvious candidate to replace her. But she could have a hand in unearthing, and nurturing, the next Fitzpatrick. She has been developing her coaching skills for a long time now. Indeed, last year she won a scholarship with the Australian Sports Commission. Controversy courted her when she was called in to help the Australian men's team; but maybe, just maybe, with such a frightening economy rate and smooth action she had something to say.

She believes she does, and takes inspiration from John Harmer, the former Australia coach who went on to coach England, too. "I believe that no other individual has had a bigger impact on women's cricket than John, and that's why I know it's so vital to have quality coaches in the system." And now it's Tim Neilsen who's inspiring her, by teaching her to coach.

"Cricket has cost me a lot of money and a lot of time," she said two years ago, "but something makes me want to keep going." While it may not be in the playing arena any more, she will certainly be contributing off the pitch.