Shane Watson has announced his retirement from the Big Bash League to spend more time with his young family.
Watson played for the Sydney Thunder for four years, captaining the franchise for the last three seasons. He finishes his career as the Thunder's all-time leading run-scorer with 1014 runs which included a century against Brisbane at the Gabba last season.
It is unclear as to whether the 37-year-old, who helped the Thunder to the BBL05 title, will continue to play NSW Premier Cricket with Sutherland as he has done for a number of seasons.
"I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has been involved with the Sydney Thunder over the last four seasons," Watson said.
"I have so many amazing memories that I will savour forever with the one standout being our win in 2016. I want to especially thank Nick Cummins, Paddy Upton, Lee Germon and Shane Bond who made my experience with the club so enjoyable.
"I will most definitely miss [the] support that the club gets from the Thunder Nation. Their unwavering support through the ups and downs inspires everyone and I will cherish that support deeply.
"Finally, to my team mates, I have played with so many great people and cricketers at the club and I sincerely wish everyone the absolute best for the upcoming seasons."
The former Australia Test all-rounder has given shire cricket fans plenty to cheer since arriving to play for the Sharks.
It was in round two in the 2017-18 season that Watson recorded the highest score for Sutherland against local rivals St George in any grade when he smashed 184 from 151 balls.
Watson joined Jarryd Biviano in a 300-run record first grade partnership for any wicket. Watson's knock surpassed Norm O'Neill's 168 in Sutherland's first match in 1965 to score what was his first century in his eight matches for Sutherland since the 2011-12 season.
Just two months later he was at it again when an incredible Watson century blasted Sutherland into the Twenty20 Cup preliminary-finals.
Chasing 151 for victory, Watson opened the batting for Sutherland and smashed an extraordinary 114 not out from just 53 balls.
Watson obliterated Mosman's bowling attack hitting 16 sixes and a four - 100 runs in boundaries alone - sharing in a 149-run opening partnership with Biviano (36). It was the most number of sixes he had hit in any innings in his distinguished career, surpassing the 15 he hit in his 185 not out for Australia in a one-day international against Bangladesh in 2011.
Watson's knock was also the first century scored for Sutherland in T20 cricket, beating the club's previous highest score - Steve Smith's 85 not out in the 2008-09 season. The partnership with Biviano was Sutherland's highest ever in T20 cricket and came from just 89 balls.
Watson has enjoyed a truly glittering career most players can only dream of.
He represented Australia in 307 matches across all formats and played more than 700 matches of international and domestic cricket in total, scoring more than 25,000 runs and claiming more than 600 wickets.
Watson's career highlights include becoming Australia's 44th Test captain and winning two Allan Border Medals.
He played in three World Cups, winning the 2007 and 2015 tournaments.
He was player of the tournament at the 2012 World T20 and won 17 one-day man of the match awards and four man of the series awards for Australia.
