- David Wiese announced retirement from international cricket.
- Wiese concluded his career with 54 T20Is and 15 ODIs.
- Wiese felt it was the right time to retire.
Following Namibia’s last group match in the T20 World Cup against England, all-rounder David Wiese declared his departure from international cricket.
Wiese concluded his career with a record of 54 T20 Internationals and 15 ODIs.
In his final appearance, Wiese, a middle-order batter, was promoted to bat at number three with the goal of scoring 126 runs in 10 overs. He contributed a brisk 27 off 12 balls, hitting two boundaries and two sixes.
England’s Jofra Archer dismissed him when the team’s score was 84-3 in the ultimate over.
Post-dismissal, Wiese acknowledged the audience with his helmet and bat and received a warm welcome from his teammates as he exited the field.
The crucial game for England was shortened to 10 overs due to rain. Namibia faced an adjusted target of 126 runs but fell short by 41 runs.
‘Seemed like the right time’: Wiese
In the aftermath, Wiese reflected on his retirement decision: “I mean, [the next] T20 World Cup is still two years away; I’m 39 years old now, so, in terms of international cricket, I don’t know if there’s much left in me.”
“I [would] still like to play the game for a couple more years; I feel like I’ve still got a lot to contribute and a lot to play,” he added.
“But I just feel like what better place to end a special career for me personally with Namibia. I’ve had a lot of good times with them, and to play my last game for them, possibly at a World Cup against a world-class team like England, just seemed like the right time,” Wiese remarked.
Wiese brought ‘massive impact’
Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus and English wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow shared their thoughts on Wiese’s influence.
“Yeah, he just doesn’t want to open, so probably the next time we can get him in quicker,” Erasmus humorously commented post-match.
“It was his last game, which is a great moment for him to perform like that in his last game,” Erasmus continued.
“Massive impact, in terms of the level of cricket he brought to our circle. He’s great on the field performance-wise, but off the field as well, he is someone we have really learned a lot from. He’s inspired us to new heights and greater heights,” Erasmus praised.
Bairstow also expressed admiration: “I think it’s a huge credit to him for the career that he’s had in international cricket. He’s going to be a big miss for those guys. It’s a credit to him for how well he’s played over such a long period of time,” he said during the press conference.
Wiese made his debut for Namibia in the previous T20 World Cup in 2021, where his performance propelled the team into the Super-12 stage. During his tenure with Namibia, he scored 532 runs and took 35 wickets in T20Is and amassed 228 runs along with six wickets in ODIs.
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