5 Great cricketers who retired from International cricket in 2018

Retirement is one word that no fan likes to hear in any sport as they grow up watching their favorite players playing their favorite game for many years. Hence, the fans always get that feeling of nostalgia when they come to know that they will not be able to witness their heroes don the national jersey ever again.

Just like every year, 2018 also witnessed many players retire, albeit, in different capacities. Few said goodbye to International cricket only, hence, they can still be seen playing for their franchises around the globe while few "hung up their boots" completely.

Moreover, few also opted to quit only a particular format of the game in a bid to extend their international career in their preferred format.

Let us take a look at five great cricketers who bid adieu to International cricket in 2018.

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#5 Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Rangana Herath made his International test debut for Sri Lanka on 22 September 1999 against Australia in a stadium which ultimately proved to be his favorite hunting ground, Galle. Though Herath has always been a consistent performer, he was often overlooked as he played in an era where the spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was at the top of his game.

But once the spin maestro retired from International cricket, Herath made himself an indispensable member of the playing XI in Sri Lankan test side. Herath became one of the prime examples of what is termed as the ‘late bloomers’ as he created a legacy of his own.

He played 93 Test matches and took 433 wickets with an incredible tally of 34 5-wicket hauls and 9 ten-wicket hauls. He bid adieu to the game as one of the best left-arm spinners in the history of Test cricket.

Even in the limited-overs format, his mind-blowing performance of 5/3 against New Zealand in one of the league games during the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup will go down as one of the best spells in the history of T20 cricket.

Herath retired from International cricket at the end of the first Test against England on 06th Nov 2018 at the same venue (Galle) where he debuted for Sri Lanka 19 years ago.

#4 Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)

Dwayne Bravo, one of the most sought-after players in franchise cricket always had a topsy-turvy international career having been overlooked by the national selectors due to his problems with the WIndies Board.

With the ball, Bravo had taken 86 wickets from 40 Tests, 199 in 164 ODIs and 52 wickets from 66 T20Is. Complimenting it with the bat, he scored more than 2000 Test runs with three centuries, close to 3000 ODI runs with two centuries, and 1000+ T20I runs.

Since the infamous ‘mid-series pull-out’ against India in 2014, Bravo had not played a single ODI for the national team. His last International assignment was against Pakistan in a T20I match in 2016.

However, the emergence of various T20 leagues around the world paved a new way for Bravo to continue his cricketing journey. Bravo finally announced his International retirement on October 24, 2018.

#3 Gautam Gambhir (India)

Gautam Gambhir, the ‘dark knight’ of Indian cricket retired from all forms of the game at the start of December 2018. Gambhir was the chief architect in India’s two historic triumphs - the 2007 T20 World Cup Final and 2011 World Cup Final. Unfortunately for him, on both occasions, he missed out marginally from winning the Man-of-the-Match awards.

In 58 Tests, he scored 4154 runs with nine 100s and 22 half-centuries with the highest score of 206. In 147 ODIs, he scored 5238 runs with 11 centuries and 34 half-centuries with the top score of 150. Even in T20s, he was a reliable and proven performer, as his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in IPL is a great example. Besides, he was a very shrewd leader, as he led KKR in two title-winning campaigns.

#2 Alastair Cook (England)

For years, Cook was touted as the man to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in Test cricket, but alas he bid adieu well before. However, he still finished his career as the 5th highest run scorer in the history of Test cricket.

Cook’s skills were evident from his very first International outing, as he scored a century in his debut Test match against India in India. Soon, he and Andrew Strauss became one of the best opening pairs for England in Test cricket.

In 161 Test matches, Cook amassed 12472 runs with 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries. Moreover, he was one of the safest fielders in the slip cordon as he took 175 catches in his test career. Cook’s ODI numbers are ordinary when compared to his Test numbers and he last played an ODI for England four years ago.

It was a fairytale ending for Cook, as he completed his International journey with a fine ton against India in his last outing on September 2018.

To his rejoice, only a day ago, Alastair Cook has become Sir Alastair Cook, as the Queen of England knighted him.

#1 AB de Villiers (South Africa)

If a list of shocking International retirements is prepared, then AB de Villiers will surely top the list. With less than a year left for the 2019 ICC World Cup, ABD shocked the cricketing world with his immediate retirement from International cricket at the end of last season’s IPL.

"I have had my turn and, to be honest, I am tired. It is not about earning more somewhere else. It is about running out of gas and feeling that it is the right time to move on. Everything comes to an end." - AB de Villiers

Before the IPL, he was in sublime form in South Africa’s Test series against India and Australia. Hence, his unexpected retirement news created plenty of buzz among the cricketing fraternity.

However, AB de Villiers is continuing his association with the game by playing in various T20 leagues around the globe. Recently, he featured for Tshwane Spartans in the inaugural edition of Mzansi Super League 2018. Next, he will make his Pakistan Super League debut, as he will feature for Lahore Qalandars. Then, he will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 12the edition of IPL.

Here is AB de Villiers' jaw-dropping International numbers – 8765 runs from 114 Test matches with 22 centuries to go along with 46 half-centuries, 9577 runs from 228 ODIs with 25 centuries & 53 half-centuries with a strike rate of 101.1, and 1672 runs from 78 T20Is with a strike rate of 135.17.