Every cricketer has to hang on his boots some day, that’s the truth about cricket. So many great players have graced this sport with their presence, but ultimately they all had to retire. Some chose to retire without any announcement while others wanted to feel the magnitude of gratifying moment. The moment with mixed feelings comes when players walk on to the field for the last time and everyone gives them guard of honour and applause.
Players retire after the culmination of their career, and not everyone of them ending with glory. But recently, Stuart Broad had a well deserving retirement day at office. He smashed last ball he played for a 6 and wicket on the last ball as a bowler to finish the Ashes on high which he thought was a real competition.
Let’s take a look at retirement images of some players who received guard of honour:
1) Stuart Broad Retired in July 2023
Stuart Broad had an illustrious career for England. 604 wickets in 166 matches and a fairlytale like end. Broad made his debut for England in 2006 and since then, he served the English team with utmost passion and mission to win matches. Broad was the ultimate Ashes warrior and fittingly he retired from cricket after finishing off Ashes on high.
2) Jhulan Goswami Retired in September 2022
Jhulan Goswami is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in women’s cricket history. Goswami made her international debut in 2002 and has since achieved numerous records and accolades. In 2022 September, she decided to retire from international cricket during third Royal ODI match between India and England.
3) Lasith Malinga Retired in July 2019
Lasith Malinga, the legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on the 26th of July 2019. He received a proper guard of honour from his teammates. He had an illustrious career spanning over 17 years, during which he played in various T20 leagues worldwide, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Malinga was known for his unorthodox bowling style, particularly his trademark sling-arm action and deadly yorkers.
4) Sir Alastair Cook Retired in September 2018
Alastair Cook was one of England’s most successful opening batsmen and played a vital role in the team’s success for more than a decade. He scored 12,472 test runs at an average of 45.35, including 33 centuries, which is the most by any English batsman. Cook’s career spanned over 12 years, during which he became the first English player to score 10,000 test runs in 2016.
5) Inzamam Ul Haq retired in October 2007
Inzamam Ul Haq announced his retirement from international cricket during a test match against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on October 1, 2007. Inzamam is considered one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketers, known for his elegant batting, sharp captaincy, and outstanding leadership skills.
6) Adam Gilchrist Retired in January 2008
Adam Gilchrist bid adieu to the game on 3rd January 2008. His retirement marked the end of an illustrious career spanning over 12 years. Notably, he played a crucial role in Australia’s domination in the early 2000s, being an integral part of the team that won three consecutive World Cups in 1999, 2003, and 2007. He earned immense respect from teammates and opponents alike for his humble nature and professionalism.
7) Michael Hussey Retired in January 2013
Michael Hussey, lovingly called “Mr. Cricket” by fans and teammates, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greats of the game. On 29th December 2012, he bid farewell to his international cricket career, marking the end of an era for Australian cricket. While his statistics speak for themselves, it was the intangibles that truly set Hussey apart. He was admired for his professionalism, humility, and unwavering commitment to the team. Despite his individual achievements, he always prioritized the collective success of his teammates and played with the team’s best interests at heart.
8) Ross Taylor Retired in April 2022
Cricketer Ross Taylor, a stalwart of New Zealand cricket, announced his retirement from international cricket in 2022.Taylor’s career spanned over 17 years, during which he represented New Zealand in 101 Test matches, 232 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 100 Twenty20 Internationals. He became one of the most successful batsmen in New Zealand’s cricket history, amassing over 18,000 runs across all formats of the game.
9) Brett Lee Retired in January 2015
Brett Lee, the former Australian cricketer known for his lightning-fast pace and aggressive bowling, retired from all forms of cricket on January 15, 2015. Throughout his career, he proved himself as one of the most lethal fast bowlers in the world. With his smooth run-up, explosive deliveries, and an ability to consistently hit speeds above 150 km/h, he struck fear into the hearts of batsmen around the globe.
10) Michael Clarke Retired in August 2015
Michael Clarke, the former Australian cricket captain, announced his retirement from international cricket on August 8, 2015. He recieved a well deserving guard of honour from English players. He made his international debut in 2004 and quickly established himself as one of the finest batsmen in the world. Known for his elegant stroke play and gritty determination, Clarke became the backbone of the Australian batting lineup.
11) Mitchell Johnson Retired in November 2015
Mitchell Johnson announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on November. The 36-year-old Australian cricketer bid farewell to the sport after an illustrious career that spanned over a decade. Johnson burst onto the international cricket scene with his blistering pace and deadly left-arm swing, terrorizing batsmen across the world. Known for his ability to generate tremendous speed and bounce, he formed a lethal partnership with Brett Lee during his early years. His crowning moment came during the 2013-2014 Ashes series against England, where he was virtually unstoppable. Johnson took a record-breaking 37 wickets in the series, securing the urn for Australia with his fiery spells that struck fear into the hearts of opposition batsmen.
12) Sir Curtly Ambrose Retired in April 2000
Sir Curtly Ambrose bid farewell to international cricket on September 10, 2000. His retirement marked the end of an era for West Indies cricket and left a profound impact on the game. Ambrose, known for his towering height, relentless pace, and intimidating accuracy, was an integral part of the West Indies team during their dominant phase in the 1990s. Ambrose’s most memorable performance came in the 1993 series against Australia, where he single-handedly demolished the opposition with a spell-binding display of fast bowling. His remarkable figures of 7 wickets for 1 run in an innings at the WACA in Perth will forever be etched in cricketing folklore.
13) Steve Waugh Retired in January 2004
Steve Waugh announced his retirement from international cricket in 2004. Waugh is hailed as one of the greatest captains and batsmen in the history of the sport. During his career, Waugh became the most capped Test player, with 168 appearances, and led the Australian team to numerous victories. He was known for his gritty batting style and exceptional leadership skills. His ability to rally his team in challenging situations earned him the nickname “Iceman.”
14) Brendon McCullum Retired in February 2016
In February 2016, Brendon McCullum retired from cricket, and the world lost one of its greatest competitors. McCullum was known for his fearlessness and risk-taking that pushed the boundaries of the game, always pushing it one step closer to the next level of greatness. His truly based attitude and unbridled determination created legendary performances that will live on forever. Even in the face of immense pressure and grueling conditions, McCullum’s confidence and determination never wavered. He wasn’t a successful captain but surely he revolutionized the game.
15) Ricky Ponting Retired in December 2012
Ricky Ponting announced his retirement from international cricket in 2012. His announcement marked the end of an illustrious career that spanned 17 years. Ponting, fondly known as Punter, made his debut for Australia in a Test match against Sri Lanka in 1995 and went on to become one of the most successful captains in the history of Australian cricket. He captained the team during the 2003 and 2007 World Cup triumphs. He bid farewell to international cricket in style, against South Africa in Perth.
16) Graeme Smith Retired in March 2014
Graeme Smith bid farewell with a Guard of honour from Australians in 2014 after amazing career spanning over a decade. Undoubtedly, he is the most successful captain South Africa ever had. Smith made his international debut in 2002 at the young age of 21 and quickly established himself as a reliable opening batsman and a powerful leader. In his 117 Test matches, he amassed over 9,000 runs, including 27 centuries, making him one of the most successful Test openers in history. However, injuries began to take a toll on Smith in the latter part of his career. Chronic knee problems forced him to retire from international cricket just one year shy of his 35th birthday.
The retirement of a great cricketer is always a bittersweet moment. On the one hand, it is a time to celebrate the player’s achievements and contributions to the game. On the other hand, it is also a time to say goodbye to a familiar face and a source of entertainment.
The cricketers mentioned in this article are just a few of the many great players who have retired from the game in recent years. They have all left their mark on the sport, and their contributions will be remembered for many years to come.
The guard of honour is a tradition in cricket that is used to show respect to a retiring player. It is a sign of appreciation for the player’s service to the game, and it is a way of acknowledging their contributions.
The players who received a guard of honour in this article are all deserving of this honor. They have all had long and successful careers, and they have all made a significant impact on the game.
