Rachel Priest Announces Retirement From International Cricket

Rachel Priest, New Zealand wicketkeeper, has called time on her international career. The decision comes just two weeks after the 34-year-old was omitted from the list of contracted players for the 2020-21 season.

Priest had made a comeback to the White Ferns outfit last year but abysmal performances in eight outings saw her losing her spot in the team once again.

The wicketkeeper-batswoman managed just 60 runs in the recently-concluded Women’s T20 World Cup. Priest’s decision draws curtains on a 13-year-long career that saw her play 87 One-day Internationals and 75 T20I fixtures, in which she racked up 1674 and 873 runs respectively.

“Having been involved in the White Ferns environment for 13 years, most of it enjoyable, it is with much consideration that I have decided to retire from international cricket,” Priest said.

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Rachel Priest will join Tasmania for the 2020-21 domestic season

That said, it is not the end of the road for Priest as she’ll embark on her second innings next year after having signed up a contract with Cricket Tasmania.

And, it is something she is really looking forward to.

“I am really looking forward to the next chapter of my cricketing journey with Cricket Tasmania and the Tigers program and feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity,” Rachel Priest told Cricket Tasmania.

“I got the call from Salliann (Briggs) to say that they were looking to add some experience to the squad, which was a call that I wasn’t really expecting. It’s an awesome opportunity and I’m keen to add that experience and learn from a new group of people.” Priest added.

“This competition is probably the best domestic competition in the world, so it’s something that I always wanted to pursue. It’s a very exciting opportunity and I’m thankful that Sal had me on her radar as someone to play the entire season, which is what I want to focus on, and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

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