Just sometimes ago, the 38-year-old Ireland pacer Tim Murtagh hinted his international retirement to extend his English county cricket career. On Friday (29th November), he has officially announced his retirement from international cricket.
Tim Murtagh made his international cricket debut in June 2012. Since then, he played three Tests, 58 ODIs and 14 T20Is where he took 13, 74 and 12 wickets respectively. In overall, the right-arm pacer finished his international career with the exact 100 wickets in 75 matches.
Murtagh played his last T20I in March 2016 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, he played his last ODI against Zimbabwe last July. However, his last international game was the historic Lord’s Test against England in late July 2019.
However, Tim Murtagh will continue his county cricket stint for Middlesex. He has signed a two-year contract which will continue till the end of the 2021 season.
Murtagh said during his international retirement announcement, “This is a day that I have known has been coming for a few years since the ECB changed their regulations, but it hasn’t made the decision any easier. I’ve had eight great years playing international cricket and loved every minute of it. It’s sad that it has come to an end but a decision that I have made my peace with.”
The 38-year-old Irish cricketer thanked everyone
Tim Murtagh thanked his wife, entire family members, and all the team members of his national team and Middlesex side.
He added, “There are many people to thank for helping me on this journey. Firstly, my amazing wife Karina and the whole family who have endured many weeks/months of me away on tour living the dream. All the management and players from Cricket Ireland who have made me feel so welcome from ‘ball one’. Also, the management at Middlesex Cricket for encouraging me to play at as high a level as I could.”
A Test Match at Lord’s against England is a great way to finish my international career – Tim Murtagh
Tim Murtagh had the memorable experience in his last international match. During the Lord’s Test against England, his five-wicket haul bundled out the experienced England side for just 85 runs in the first innings. He had the bowling figures of 9-2-13-5 and till the date, it is the only Test five-wicket haul for an Ireland bowler.
Though Ireland lost that historic Lord’s Test by 143 runs, they ended that Test match with the high head.
Tim Murtagh has admitted that it was a great way to finish his career as he took a total of six wickets in that Lord’s Test.
He said, “A Test Match at Lord’s against England is a great way to finish my international career and a game I will always cherish. I wish the lads all the best for the winter tours and very much hope to help out and be involved in some capacity in the future.
“Finally, thank you for the support from everyone over in Ireland, both north and south of the border. Very much appreciated and I will be over to see everyone soon.”