As they say, everyone has to depart sooner or later. If life gives you immense success and happiness, then you must be prepared to face the downfall, as it is inevitable. Just like that, the world of Cricket; is no different. No player can play cricket; throughout their life. A time will come when they will have to retire from it permanently; however, there were some cricketers whose careers collapsed, and they had to retire. So, let’s look at some of the cricketers whose careers terminated in a bit of time.
1. Nathan Bracken
A former Aussie left-arm bowler, who even held the record of being the World’s No.1 bowler, witnessed a terrible end to his cricket career due to a knee injury. Despite receiving rigorous medical treatment, he could not recover completely and, declared retirement in 2011. He played his last international match in 2009.
2. Navjot Singh Sidhu
The former Indian cricketer, considered a very jolly person, unfortunately, fell prey to the team’s politics, which forced him to leave cricket; behind. It is often believed that he was deliberately kept away from the playing eleven and was constantly replaced by others. After leaving the world of cricket; he joined television and politics.
3. VVS Laxman
As we all know, the media plays a massive role in spreading and manipulating the news. They skillfully play with our minds and compel us to believe in certain information. A similar thing happened with this former Indian batter. During India’s tour of Australia in 2011, Laxman scored only a couple of half-centuries in four test matches. Seeing this, the media and former cricketers began to pass comments on his deteriorating batting skills and that he was no longer fit to play. Unfortunately, these things took a toll on him, and he declared retirement.
4. Mohammad Kaif
He was a former Indian batter who, for several years, had seen success in his career. He often helped India win the match by scoring runs at crucial times. However, when Greg Chappell became the coach, he frequently changed the team’s batting order. It highly impacted Kaif’s strike rate, and he failed to score enough runs. In 2018, he declared retirement from all forms of Cricket.
5. Henry Olonga
He was a Zimbabwean fast bowler whose career lasted for a very short period. It is because during the 2003 World Cup, he wore a black band in order to protest against diminishing democracy in Zimbabwe. This act took a considerable toll on his life, personally and professionally since he was arrested by the authorities. Therefore, he decided to declare retirement, as he could not play for his country since he was protesting against its political system.
6. James Taylor
He was a former English cricketer who had to end his career with a heavy heart. It is because he developed an insidious heart condition, and to look after his health, he had to part ways with Cricket.
7. Jonathan Trott
This former English batsman abruptly announced retirement after losing a series to the West Indies. He could not perform well in that series and later stated that he was going through anxiety issues. Therefore, to take care of his mental health, he chose to leave his career behind.
8. Mark Boucher
Next on the list is a former South African wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher. He was undoubtedly the best at wicketkeeping, but that cost him dearly. In 2012, during one of the matches, he suffered an eye injury after a bail struck his left eye. This miserable injury forced him to retire as he failed to recover completely.
9. Craig Kieswetter
The second-last person on the list is an English wicketkeeper, Craig Kieswetter. He, too, was forced to retire early due to an eye injury after getting hit in the eye while batting in a domestic league. He tried to make a comeback after his injury but failed to perform well since he would inaccurately judge the line and length of the bowl.
10. Kevin Pietersen
The last person on the list is one of the most incredible English batters, Kevin Pietersen. Known as the greatest modern batsman and for his aggression, he unexpectedly declared retirement in 2018. This spontaneous exit left his fans devastated.
