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James Pattinson has moved a step closer to retirement after he and Victoria mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his state contract. The official statement called it "an extended break from the game" as Pattinson cited the impact of a county season with Nottinghamshire on his body and a desire to spend time with his young family. He had been released by Nottinghamshire last month for fitness and family reasons. In June he also withdrew from the final year of his Melbourne Renegades deal in BBL. "This decision has been a really difficult one for me given my how much I love playing for Victoria and have given it my all for the last 14 years," Pattinson said. "After the birth of our second child and my now well-documented injuries in recent years, it's the right time to take a break from the game. I owe it to my team-mates and myself and at the moment it's clear I need the rest. It will also allow me to spend more time at home with our daughters. "Some of my fondest memories playing cricket have been for Victoria, the success we've had and friendships I've made. The fire still burns deep in me but I'm also honest about where I'm at." Pattinson made his Victoria debut in the 2008-09 season and was part of Sheffield Shield winning teams in 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2018-19, the latter coming at a time when he forced his way back into the Australia line-up for the 2019 Ashes following a serious back injury. He played the last of his 21 Tests in early 2020 against New Zealand. Overall in first-class cricket, Pattinson has taken 350 wickets at 23.52 with 161 of those coming for Victoria. "As his team-mates and opposition batters will attest, James has been one of the fiercest competitors in Australian cricket," Graham Manou, Cricket Victoria's general manager of cricket performance, said. "He has an ability to inspire his team-mates combined with his exceptional skill level is something we'll miss. "We wish James well as he takes this time to prioritise his family and his health. James knows he will always be welcome around…and that we will continue to support him as he transitions to life beyond cricket"
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