5 Cricketers Who Retired In Their 20s

Retirement for cricketers is never an easy decision. Cricketers prepare themselves from a very tender age to represent their nation at the highest level of the sport. Hence, it would be shattering for them if they have to give up on their dream even before it began or soon after it does. It is also saddening for the fans to see an upcoming prolific player calling it quits early.

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Over the years, several players have quit professional cricket at a tender age, shocking the cricketing fraternity. While some cricketers decided to do so because of injuries, health ailments, and issues with the board, the remaining have done so to pursue a different career altogether. For them, they found they’re calling relatively late and preferred to give up cricket.

We take a look at five cricketers who quit professional cricket in their 20s:

Tatenda Taibu – 29:

Former Zimbabwe skipper Tatenda Taibu was a mainstay of their batting line-up. Until Rashid Khan became Afghanistan’s Test captain at 20 years and 350 days, Tatenda Taibu held the record, doing so at 20 years and 358 days. Taibu starred in 150 Tests, 28 Tests, and 16 T20Is.

He scored a solitary Test century and mustered 1546 runs at 30.31, while ODIs saw him manage 3393 runs at 29.25 with a couple of tons. The 34-year old was also part of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 but played only three matches. The keeper-batsman retired at 29 as he decided to shift his focus on working for a church.

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Craig Kieswetter:

Former England keeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter’s retirement reason was a tragic one as he could not carry on playing due to his eye injury. Craig Kieswetter was an explosive opener and played an integral role in England’s first ICC silverware win back in 2010. The 33-year old scored 222 runs in seven games at 31.71, including starring in the final.

The Johannesburg-born cricketer top-scored with 63 and secured the man of the match award in the final against Australia in Barbados as England sealed the title by seven wickets. In all, Kieswetter played in 46 ODIs and 25 T20Is. He suffered an injury to his nose and eye socket in 2014, playing for Northamptonshire. Though he returned in South Africa to play for England, he struggled with the effects of injuries.

James Taylor:

James Taylor was a promising middle-order batsman, who kept pushing his case in the England set-up in ODI and Test cricket. James Taylor made his Test debut in 2012 against South Africa at Headingley and played his first ODI a year before. But the right-handed batsman’s serious heart condition forced him to retire at 26.

The 31-year old underwent surgery to fit an internal defibrillator to his heart for his arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Though Taylor averaged only 26.06 in seven Tests, he had an impressive record in first-class cricket, mustering 9306 runs in 193 fixtures at 46.06. In July 2018, he was also appointed as a full-time England selector.

Zafar Ansari:

Former England spinner Zafar Ansari was yet another cricketer who left international cricket in his mid-20s. Zafar Ansari had only played four international games, three of which were Tests in his career before retiring, aged 25. The 29-year old made his Test debuted against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2016 and played his last against Vishakhapatnam against India that year.

He took only five wickets in three games at 55. On the other hand, the left-arm spinner’s only ODI came against Ireland in May 2015; however, he played no role in that match as it finished in no-result due to rain. But Ansari had a decent record in first-class cricket, snaring 128 scalps in 71 fixtures at 35.87, while also scoring three tons. The Surrey cricketer decided to retire to pursue a career potentially in law.

Beau Casson:

Former Australian spinner Beau Casson was yet another cricketer retiring at a young age at 28. Beau Casson represented Australia in only one Test back in Barbados in 2008 and picked three wickets in a winning effort. Unfortunately, he retired early due to a heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, for which he required surgery at a very young age.

It could’ve been threatening had he continued playing. Casson’s first-class record was mediocre and picked up 123 wickets at 43.04 with four fifers and a solitary ten-wicket haul. On the other hand, the Western Australian made eight fifties with a high score of 99.

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