5 Players Who Might Witness The End Of Their International Cricket Career In 2021

While many promising international cricket careers are prime to flourish in the year 2021, some are destined to see their end. There is a strong likelihood of a few prominent names playing their last games at the highest level in the upcoming 12 months.

For a variety of reasons, there is a high chance these players might not continue long in positions for their respective teams in the forthcoming year.

5 Players Who Might Witness The End Of Their International Cricket Career In 2021:

5. Joe Burns

Even before the start of the ongoing home summer, there were genuine question marks raised at Joe Burns place as an opener in the Australian Test side. It was only through trust shown by head coach Justin Langer and skipper Tim Paine, besides multiple injuries, that Burns got the nod to face India.

But after looking horribly out of touch in three of his four innings, the right-hand batsman got dropped from the squad. The 31-year-old doesn’t have an overall impressive record to his name either. And with other promising names also emerging through the ranks, it could well be that Burns has already played his Test for Australia. The right-hander isn’t part of the limited-overs set-up. His international cricket career might end in 2021.

4. Kedar Jadhav

Picked in the Indian team out of his peak years, Kedar Jadhav was an integral part of the one-day side till the 2019 World Cup. The experienced right-hand batsman batted brilliantly in the middle-order and also added a lot of balance to the side with his handy part-time off-spinners.

However, Kedar’s form declined thereafter and he was dropped. With age not on his side and the selectors building the side towards the 2023 World Cup, Jadhav has probably played his international game for India.

3. Faf du Plessis

Du Plessis just made a superb hundred in his first Test after the extended gap amid the pandemic against Sri Lanka. However, it is understood the veteran right-hand batsman may bid farewell to his career this year post the T20 World Cup in India.

Du Plessis was sacked from captaincy across formats last summer and hasn’t been a sure starter in the 50-over side as well. Before the COVID-19 brought the world to an abrupt halt, the 36-year-old had hinted that his Test days are numbered now. His international cricket career might end in 2021.

2. Mohammed Hafeez

Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder Hafeez could also bring to end his long international career this year after the T20 World Cup in India. Out of central contracts list and not picked for Tests and ODIs, Hafeez has been concentrating only on T20 cricket for a while now.

The 40-year-old delivered some strong performances in the last year’s T20I series versus England and New Zealand. But is likely to hang his boots after an effort to help Pakistan reclaim the T20 World Cup trophy.

1. James Anderson

The Ashes tour of Australia scheduled at the end of the year could well prove to be James Anderson’s last international assignment for England. The right-arm paceman has had an illustrious Test career.

Through sheer passion and determination, 38-year-old has overcome multiple injuries in recent years to become the only fast bowler in the game’s history to play 150 Tests and take 600 wickets. But Anderson’s excellent journey could see its culmination soon. His international cricket career might end in 2021.