Nathan Bracken’s big change as ex-cricketer has sights set on new career

He was known for his trademark flowing golden locks and extraordinary bowling record.

But Nathan Bracken couldn’t look any more different these days after turning his attentions from cricket to politics.

The Australian sporting legend was the second-fastest Aussie to reach 100 ODI wickets – joint with Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee in having done so in 60 matches. That feat has only been beaten since by Mitch Starc.

Bracken went on to take 186 wickets for Australian in 121 matches in a glittering career international career that spanned nine years.

But it seems the 45-year-old has set his sights on a new career and is now running as the Liberal candidate for The Entrance, on the Central Coast, in the upcoming New South Wales state election.

The 6ft 4ins left-arm quick has shorter hair now, with a middle parting, and it’s now more brown than blonde, with the odd grey in there too.

Bracken is also now sporting a beard and wears glasses.

He completed a bachelor’s degree in communications after retiring from cricket but has continued to play a part in the game as both a commentator and coach.

He is now an account manager at Boral Concrete on the Central Coast.

Bracken will be up against Labor incumbent David Mehan, who has held the seat since 2015 and holds a 5.2 per cent majority.

The former sportsman previously ran as an independent in the 2013 federal election, receiving 8.2 per cent of the primary vote.

He unsuccessfully ran again as an independent in 2017.

Bracken told The Daily Telegraph he was running because the Central Coast needed “a voice” in parliament.

“I’ve been on the Central Coast now for pretty much close to 20 years … I made a decision a while a go to not be someone who sits around and whinges about it …(I want to focus on) what it can be, the infrastructure, the opportunities all the residents want it to have,” Bracken said.

“My views have always been down the Liberal side of things, even when I ran as an independent, I preferenced the Liberals.

“What Dominic (Perrottet) has been through and where he is taking us … going forward, (it’s) a great opportunity to leapfrog out of Covid and put us on the front foot for the future.”

Bracken retired form cricket in 2011 because of a knee injury and later sued Cricket Australia over how it was handled.

He alleged the organisation engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct, was negligent and in breach of contract. The case was eventually settled.

At his peak he was one of the finest short-form bowlers in the world, playing 116 one-day internationals and 19 T20 internationals for Australia and being part of the victorious 2003 and 2007 World Cup squads.

However he never nailed down a spot in the Test line-up, donning the baggy green just five times.

Bracken and his wife Haley competed against each other on Dancing With The Stars in 2011.

They have two children, sons Chase and Tag.