Former Australian World Cup winner Xavier Doherty turns carpenter

Xavier Doherty, the former Australian cricketer, has turned into a carpenter to meet his needs more than four years after he retired from competitive cricket. The left-arm spinner made his first-class and List A debut in the 2001-02 season and his career lasted 17 years. The retired spinner was also a part of Australia’s 2015 World Cup-winning squad, captained by Michael Clarke.

In the tournament, he only played a solitary game and leaked 60 runs in seven overs without getting a wicket. After bidding adieu to cricket, the now 38-year-old Doherty wasn’t aware of his next step in life, but he made sure of finding his way.

In a video uploaded by the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), Doherty talked about carpentry and how he’s been enjoying the new profession. He also thanked the ACA for lending him a helping hand in the critical situation.

I spent the first 12 months once cricket finished doing everything: Xavier Doherty

“Right now, I am three-quarters of the way through a carpentry apprenticeship. This is my day on building sites and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Just being outdoors working with my hands, learning new things. Something completely different to cricket,” Doherty was quoted as saying in the clip.

“When I finished cricket, I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do. Then I spent the first 12 months once cricket finished doing everything and every opportunity that came my way. I did some landscaping, office work, cricket work and then found myself here,” he stated.

“The ACA has been unbelievable really. Obviously, it hits you right between the eyes when your cricket days finish and thoughts going through your head of what’s coming next, and money and what’s my life gonna look like?” he added.

In his career for Australia, Doherty played four Tests and 60 ODIs in which he picked up seven and 55 wickets respectively. He last played competitive cricket for the Australia Legends in March 2020 during the Road Safety World Series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Overall, he plied his trade in 71 first-class, 176 List A, and 74 T20 matches, picking up 415 wickets. He last played for the national team in 2015.