While some cricketers are often criticized for not hanging their kit even after they are past their peak, there are a few cricketers who retired from Test cricket at a time when many people thought they could have played more.
Here are the 5 cricketers who retired from Test cricket too early –
#1 Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith captained South Africa in more than 100 Test matches, but still when he retired, he was only 33 years of age. He announced his retirement abruptly at the end of a home series against Australia.
The reason behind Smith’s retirement was the fact that he could not give enough time to his young family. However, only a couple of years after his retirement, Smith divorced his first wife.
#2 Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi also retired from Test cricket abruptly. After three Pakistan players were found involved in spot fixing on Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010, Afridi was given the captaincy of the Pakistan Test team in the middle of the series, but he didn’t just give up the Test captaincy at the end of the series, he retired from Test cricket altogether.
Afridi continued playing white ball cricket for Pakistan for 6 more years after his Test retirement.
#3 MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni shocked everyone by announcing his Test retirement after the third Test match of the 4-match Test series between India and Australia in 2014. He was expected to give up the Test captaincy at the end of that series, but people thought he might continue playing Test cricket for another couple of years.
However, Dhoni bid adieu to the longest format of the game to allow Wriddhiman Saha to establish himself in the Test side.
Saha had impressed with both bat and gloves earlier in the first Test match of that series which Dhoni hadn’t played because of his suspension.
#4 Dean Jones
Dean Jones, who averaged more than 40 for Australia in both Test and ODI cricket, announced his retirement in anger after he was dropped from the Australian team in 1994.
Jones was only 33-year old when he retired and many people thought it was a wrong decision on his part because he could have easily made a comeback and played for another 3-4 years for Australia.
#5 Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann announced his retirement after the third Ashes Test match in Australia in 2013. While Swann’s performance in that series was nowhere close to his standards, nobody could foresee his retirement. He was only 34 when he retired.
Swann’s disappointment of losing the Ashes at the hands of the arch rivals Australia drove him to the decision of retirement. England eventually got whitewashed in that series by 5-0.
