England pacer David Willey has decided to retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. Willey announced this decision on November 1, 2023, on social media.
This comes after Willey was offered a central contract for the 2023-24 cycle by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He was “not best pleased”, in the words of Rob Key, to be the only member of their World Cup squad who did not feature in the list of 26 central contracts announced in Bangalore last week.
Willey is among the few England players who have enhanced their reputation in England’s dismal World Cup 2023 performance, where they have won only one game out of six played. He has taken five wickets at 27.20 and hit 42 runs from the lower order in his three appearances.
“I never wanted this day to come. 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,” Willey wrote in his retirement post on social media.
— David Willey (@david_willey) November 1, 2023
Willey had made his England debut in ODIs in 2015. He has so far claimed 94 wickets in 70 ODIs, and a further 51 in 43 T20Is, the last of which came at Canberra in October 2022.
“I Feel I Still Have A Lot More To Give”- David Willey
Willey said that he will continue to give “my everything and more” in England’s final three group games against Australia, Netherlands and Pakistan.
“I feel I still have a lot more to give on and off the field while I am still playing my best cricket, and my decision has nothing to do with our performance during the World Cup,” he said.
Willey will continue to play short-form cricket both at home and abroad. Last year, he captained Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast and played for Welsh Fire in the Hundred. In January, he will play for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20. He could possibly be retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the IPL next year.
He was part of England’s second-place finish at the 2016 World T20, taking 3 for 20 in the final against West Indies, and was named to their provisional squad for the 2019 World Cup, but was cruelly withdrawn at the last minute to accommodate Jofra Archer’s selection.
