Image Credit- Getty
After England’s last World Cup match in India, David
Willey said he will be retiring from international cricket at the age of 33.
This decision was made after the ECB declined to award Willey a central
contract for the 2023–24 cycle.
In his three games since joining the team for their
crushing loss to South Africa in Mumbai, Willey has taken five wickets at a
cost of 27.20 and scored 42 runs from the lower order, making him one of the
few English players who has improved their image over the past four weeks in
India.
To quote Rob Key, he was “not best pleased”
to be the only member of their World Cup team not included in the 26 key
contracts that were revealed in Bangalore last week. Despite the upcoming T20
World Cup in June of next year, he has made the decision to permanently leave
international cricket.
“I never wanted this day to come,” Willey
wrote in a post on his Instagram page. “From a young boy, I’ve only ever
dreamed of playing cricket for England. So, with careful thought and
consideration, it is with great regret that I feel the time has come for me to
retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the World Cup.
“I have worn the shirt with immense pride and
given my absolute everything to the badge on my chest. I’ve been very lucky to
be a part of such an incredible white ball team with some of the best players
in the world. I’ve made some special memories and great friends along the way
and been through some very difficult times.
“To my wife, two children, mum and dad, I
wouldn’t have been able to follow my dreams without your sacrifice and
unwavering support throughout. Thank you for sharing the special memories and
picking up the pieces when I’ve fallen apart – I’m eternally grateful.”
Willey’s decision comes at a bad time for England, who
are trying to salvage something from a terrible World Cup campaign after losing
their opening six games. According to Mark Wood, “there’s no hiding from
it,” on Wednesday. “We have got to try and stick together as a team
and in these last three games, try and get some sort of positive outcome.”
Willey will carry on with his short-form cricket
career both domestically and internationally. In addition to playing for Welsh
Fire in the Hundred and leading Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast last year, he
is scheduled to represent Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 in January.
Before the IPL in the following year, Royal Challengers Bangalore may decide to
keep him.