Test dream still burns for Cowan

It's remarkable to think that the fifth highest run-scorer in Bupa Sheffield Shield cricket last season, a 32-year-old at the top of his game, doesn't know where or when he will play his next first-class match, if indeed he plays another one at all.

That's the unique situation facing former Test opener Ed Cowan as he prepares to embark on the latest chapter in his life.

Cowan stunned the Australian cricket community a month ago when he announced he would forgo his career with Tasmania to return to his home city of Sydney with his wife and young daughter.

It came after a season of giddying highs and heart-breaking lows for the left-hander; he plundered four centuries and 815 runs for the Tigers, but his feats on the field were put into sharp perspective by the passing of former Test and state teammate Phillip Hughes.

Cowan's decision to leave the Apple Isle was a case of choosing life over cricket, but he admits he still yearns for a chance to add to his 18 Test caps.

In the same breath, Cowan is philosophical about the role cricket will play in his new life in Sydney, which will also include a university degree, a burgeoning coffee business and time with his young family. 

"I’m in a bit of a strange situation where I feel like I’m at the top of my game and I've never played any better than I did this season," Cowan said in a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Tasmanian.

"I still have a deep desire to play Test cricket with full knowledge that it's unlikely to happen again, but you can hold on to the dream I guess.

"There's certainly a chance I'll play for NSW again. At the moment there hasn’t really been any discussion with them. I just wanted to get my life sorted and move back to Sydney and get everything in place.

"If it (a contract with NSW) doesn't come off I'm very comfortable with playing (club) cricket for Sydney Uni - that's the way life pans out."

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Cowan enjoyed one his best ever seasons for Tasmania // Getty

Cowan's new perspective on the game is refreshing in the modern era of seemingly non-stop cricket and thorough professionalism.

Not that Cowan is in anyway critical of the mindset of the modern cricketer, nor is he immune to the all-encompassing nature of the professional game.

But having prioritised the sport over other parts of his life for 15 years, Cowan simply believes the time is right for him to move forward.

And he says the passing of Hughes in November played a significant role in giving him a new perspective on the game and its role in his life.

"This season was probably the start of me letting go of cricket as the be-all and end-all in life," he said.

"And we had some tragic circumstances around Phillip, which gave a lot of us some perspective.

"All of a sudden you realise it’s a game that needs to be enjoyed, and there are other things in life that are more important.

"If you’re a young guy and you’re single and you don’t have kids and you want to play cricket for Australia, throw absolutely everything at it, knowing that a nice work-life balance is important, but don’t hold back.

"I feel up until this point I've done that and for that reason I can say I don’t regret anything over the last 10 years of first-class cricket.

"The best decision I made was to move down here (to Tasmania). I should have done it earlier. But at the same time you have to let things play out naturally.

"The time had come in my life where I needed to reassess my priorities. I’d given everything to cricket for 15 years and that involves missing weddings and birthday parties and family births and deaths.

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Cowan with Phillip Hughes in the 2013 Ashes // Getty

"I came down here for cricket but I was lucky enough to forge friendships and a life outside cricket as well, that’s what makes the decision hard.

"It was me weighing up where cricket was in my life. When I thought about that I came to the conclusion that, while it still is very dear to me and very important because I do want to try and play Test cricket again, it’s time to keep moving forward with life.

"To be down here it was about cricket but now I need to balance cricket with family, with transitioning out of cricket, doing some work experience, finishing my uni, growing a business.

"There are all of a sudden lots of different ingredients being thrown into the pot."

While Cowan says he's yet to enter discussions with NSW about a possible contract for the 2015-16 season, he has hopes of playing at least one more season at state level.

Should Cowan return to domestic cricket and continue his impressive form from last season, it appears unlikely his age would be a deterrent if national selectors were to consider him for a Test recall.

The selection of uncapped duo Adam Voges (35) and Fawad Ahmed (33) in the Test squad for the upcoming tours of the Caribbean and the UK, and the recall of Chris Rogers two years ago at the age of 35, has given Cowan hope that if he's good enough, he's young enough.

And with Rogers set to call time on his international career after the Ashes later this year, selectors will likely need to find a new opening partner for David Warner ahead of October’s away series in Bangladesh.

But 32-year-old Cowan believes selectors have their eye on a young Queenslander to replace Rogers when the left-hander retires from the Test side.

"The reason I would play one more season of cricket is I don’t want to turn around in a year and say ‘what if?" he said.

"I think the selectors probably have their eye on Joe Burns to open the batting but I also feel as though I’ve still got a lot to offer the Australian Test team.

"Adam getting selected was not only one for the good guys but one for the old guys as well.

"It shows if you play well enough they’re willing to pick you, regardless of age, and that’s inspiring for someone on the other side of 30."