David Willey will retire from International Cricket after World Cup 2023.
England’s left-arm seamer, David Willey, has taken the cricketing world by surprise with his announcement to retire from all forms of cricket following the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup. The versatile bowling all-rounder shared this decision on his social media, making it clear that his retirement is unrelated to England’s performance in the ongoing tournament.
David Willey, hailing from Northamptonshire, made his international cricket debut in 2015, a period when England was revamping their white-ball cricket system following a disappointing 50-over World Cup campaign. Over the years, the 33-year-old has emerged as a key figure in England’s white-ball cricket setup, featuring in 70 ODIs and 43 T20Is. He was also a part of the squad that reached the final of the 2016 World T20.
Taking to Instagram, Willey expressed his deep-seated passion for playing for England and his unwavering dedication to the national team. He described himself as fortunate to have been a part of a special group of players in white-ball cricket during his career.
In his statement, Willey conveyed, “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.”
He continued, “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.”
David Willey was famously left out of England’s 2019 World Cup squad, a decision influenced by the compelling case presented by Jofra Archer. Nevertheless, Willey’s inclusion in the 2023 World Cup squad has been justified by his impressive performances, including the notable feat of taking five wickets in three matches, with three of them coming against India.