Launceston will farewell one of Tasmanian cricket's great personalities when George Bailey strides out onto UTAS Stadium for the final time.
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The state's third-most prolific Sheffield Shield batsman (8153 runs in 128 games), second-most prolific BBL batsman (1512 runs in 67 matches) and most-prolific one-day batsman (3893 runs in 130 games), Bailey will play his fourth-last BBL game on Sunday after foreshadowing his retirement two months ago.
The 2.45pm Adelaide Strikers clash has huge ramifications for the Hurricanes' finals hopes, but if there's any added pressure to perform, Bailey isn't showing it.
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"I'm very relaxed - I've been quite unemotional about the whole thing to be honest," Bailey said from a Greater Northern Raiders function in Launceston.
"I'm starting to count down last games at grounds and things - one more here, one more in Hobart and that's it for games in Tassie.
"I'm looking forward to finishing and I'm quite grateful for the opportunity to play one more game up here in Launceston, which is where I'm from, and one more game at Bellerive, where I've played so much of my cricket over the years."
Set to turn 38 in September this year, Bailey's involvement in the nation's cricket landscape will not stop at retirement.
The former South Launceston batsman will step into the role of national men's selector following the BBL, joining head coach Justin Langer and Trevor Hohns on a three-man panel.
Even with a new role on the horizon Bailey's form has stayed rock solid - his average of 25.20 is the third-best of any Hurricane this season - however that appears to count for little.
"I'd prefer to be hitting them badly and us to be winning a few more games," Bailey joked.
"Batting in the middle order in T20 ... last year I think we had D'Arcy [Short] and Matty Wade doing such a good job at the top I hardly got a hit so I've had to do a bit too much batting for my liking this year.
"In an ideal world you go out with premierships and things but it's pretty rare that that happens and I wasn't hinging the season on that being the case.
"I've still thoroughly enjoyed it and we've got an excellent crew of people so win or lose every day in the Hurricanes colours is great fun."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
The Hurricanes face an uphill battle to make the top five after Thursday's washout and three consecutive losses.
Victory against Adelaide is a non-negotiable for finals qualification and Bailey's teammates are desperate to get him there one last time.
"Being the poster boy for Tasmanian cricket over the years we want to get him to go out with a bang and do everything we can to win as many games as we can in his last few," rising paceman Nathan Ellis said.
"You know what he's like - he plays it down and tries not to get too much attention around him, he just wants to enjoy it.
"But with us we want to do the best we can to prolong the retirement and try and get him to play some finals games and win some silverware for him."
FAST FACTS
- What: Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers
- When: Sunday, 2.45pm
- Where: UTAS Stadium, Launceston
- Tickets: Available at ticketmaster.com.au