SOURCE: BBC Sport – Former England captain Eoin Morgan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 36-year-old, who was born in Dublin, stepped down from the international game in June.
Under Morgan’s guidance, England won the World Cup in 2019 and reached the top of the one-day and Twenty20 rankings. Morgan said on Monday that he was retiring from the sport “after much deliberation”.
“I believe that now is the right time to step away from the game that has given me so much over the years,” he added.
“From moving to England in 2005 to join Middlesex, right up to the very end, playing for Paarl Royals in SA20, I have cherished every moment.
“Thanks to cricket, I have been able to travel the world and meet incredible people, many of whom I have developed lifelong friendships with. Playing for franchise teams across the globe has given me so many memories that I will hold on to forever.”
Morgan, who made 275 appearances for Middlesex across all formats, scoring 8,913 runs, also captained London Spirit in The Hundred as well as Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
After starting his international career with Ireland in 2006, he switched allegiance in 2009 in order to play Test cricket.
While he played 16 Tests, Morgan’s strength was in the white-ball game. He was part of England’s 2010 T20 World Cup win before taking charge of that side in 2012 and the one-day team two years later, succeeding Sir Alastair Cook.
His first tournament as ODI captain, the 2015 World Cup, was disappointing, with England failing to make it to the knock-out stages, but proved the catalyst for a revival which culminated in the super-over success against New Zealand at Lord’s four years later.
Morgan captained England in a record 126 ODIs and 72 T20s and remains their leading run-scorer in one-day cricket with 6,957, while he is second in the T20 standings behind current captain Jos Buttler.
He paid tribute to family and friends for their “unconditional” support over his career and says he will now focus on his broadcasting career at international and franchise tournaments.
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