Shane Watson has retired from all forms of cricket after his latest stint in the Indian Premier League came to an end.
The 39-year-old former Australia vice-captain announced that his 20-season professional playing days have come to an end.
“This closing chapter is going to be so hard to top, but I am going to try,” Watson posted on Twitter, with a link to a video in which he detailed his decision.
“I truly am forever grateful to have lived this amazing dream.
“Now onto the next exciting one…”
Watson played almost 750 matches at all levels, leaving the game with 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20s for his country.
The allrounder is a two-time Allan Border Medallist, a dual IPL MVP and former Australia captain in all formats.
Having pulled the pin on his international career in 2016, Watson continued to pile on the runs Twenty20 cricket in the Big Bash League and in the IPL.
His announcement comes after his Chennai Super Kings missed out on the IPL finals despite victory in their final game on the weekend in the United Arab Emirates.
He scored 3874 runs, took 92 wickets and 40 catches during his time in the IPL, which began back in 2008.
Watson played 11 matches for Chennai this year with a high score of 83 not out.
In Tests Watson finished with 3731 runs and 75 wickets, he added 5757 ODI runs and took 168 scalps while his T20 career for Australia culminated with 1462 runs and 48 wickets.
“It all started out as a dream,” Watson said on his YouTube channel T20 Stars.
“As a young kid saying to my mum as I watched a Test match as a five year, ‘I want to play cricket for Australia’.
“Now as I officially announce my retirement from all cricket, I feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream and then some.”
Prez
Roar Rookie
Twice winner of Allan Border medal
Spanner
Roar Rookie
You said "great career" - no it wasnt ! He is nowhere near a tall poppy - just an average one day cricketer whom I have nothing against - but he was never "great" at anything !
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
I thought from a batting viewpoint in test matches, Watson seemed most at ease when opening. He had a few ninety somethings although had difficulties breaking through the 100 mark. Will be interesting what he does next.
Prez
Roar Rookie
Tall poppy comment. No one said he was the greatest.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Haha - not now Jeff !
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Freddie. It all started with Freddie in 05.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
His 5-fer in Cape Town 2011 was outstanding. Completely unplayable and destroyed South Africa within one session - Amla, Smith, Kaillis, Boucher...you must be one helluva talented batsman! :laughing:
Spanner
Roar Rookie
When you analyse match situations rather than stats sheets Rob, you find he was pretty ordinary when it was "on". Also his bowling average of 33 means a team makes 330 against him everytime - and that will win more tests that it loses - if we are referencing stats.
Watson seems like a genuine nice guy as well. Probably would have been a good captain if his Test form/luck with injuries was any better. Probably should have played 80-90 tests with his talent and skill set. Still a great career though, 190 ODIs and 60 odd T20Is. Played T20 all around the world for a long time, he's made plenty of bank in the last 5 years that's for sure.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Nah, Australia’s desire to find an allrounder is all down to how good Jacques Kallis was and Ben Stokes is.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think Cameron Green might be thankful Shane Watson came along when he did. In his early days, Watson was plenty quick but then injuries came and that hurt his career a lot. I reckon the lessons learned from how Watson's career was handled, have been applied to Green, so hopefully he can achieve what Watson promised but didn't quite deliver. He's had a great career in cricket, though I recall he wasn't that keen on doing homework! :happy:
Rob
Guest
I don't think anyone is saying Watson is up there with the guys you mentioned but this is a ridiculous comment. Ben Stokes is widely considered to be the best all rounder going around at the moment and averages 37 with the bat and 31 with the ball (in test cricket). Watson averaged 35 with the bat and 33 with the ball. That's a long way off from being "pretty ordinary". I think Australia's obsession of finding an all-rounder has actually come from Watson being so good across all 3 formats.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Good limited overs player but pretty ordinary in the big stuff. Wouldn't have got me out, even with a new cherry. A beneficiary of our obsession to find an "all rounder" - we dont have any. Sobers, Botham, Dev, Kallis, only come along once a generation and Watto certainly wasnt one of them !
Prez
Roar Rookie
Great career. Well done
DingoGray
Roar Guru
For all the referrals joke, Australia is poorer with no Watto. Not sure there's been a better performer of the Limited overs game as a genuine all-rounder than Watto. Australia's constant desire to find an All-rounder is truly down to how good Watto was.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
W.G. Grace was once bowled, replaced the bails & allegedly remained at the crease saying”the crowd came to see me bat”. No DRS then. Perhaps Watson is the modern day equivalent & referred plumb LBW’s just to further entertain the fans!
Micko
Roar Rookie
No, so he's referred the decision to the third umpire. :silly:
JGK
Roar Guru
Is he sure that he wants out?