5 Players who might retire from international cricket in 2022

Well, international cricket in current times is very challenging and intense. Because of the ongoing pandemic, playing across formats is very pestiferous and tiresome. Taking extended breaks or quitting one format seems to be the trend to elongate one’s career.

In fact, just before the first dawn of 2022, SA’s gloveman Quinton De Kock has already vacated the red-ball format. In the past two years, players above the age of 35 have found it very taxing to be on the trot amidst bio-bubbles and restrictions.

Hence with few of the top dogs almost reaching the twilight of their prosperous careers, maybe 2022 could be the last blaze before the sunsets.

Therefore in this list, let’s check these individuals who might retire from international cricket in 2022.

1. Tim Paine

For Tim Paine, the ongoing Ashes series of 2022 was speculated to be the last assignment of his international career. The former Aussie captain who had helmed the team after the atrocious Sandpaper incident also seemed to be contemplating retirement after the 2021-22 Ashes. But unfortunately now getting away from the game at the age of 37 certainly means there isn’t much light at the end of the tunnel.

Sadly, the recent controversy of the Aussie gloveman might just propel him to hang his international boots in 2022. Perhaps though the Australian selectors are yet to find an established wicket-keeper batter in Tests, maybe Alex Carey might now jump ahead in the pecking order. Even in terms of controlling ahead their red-ball affairs, the duo of Pat Cummins and Steve Smith conclusively look an ideal choice.

Hence with barely holding any bona fide rationale to make a comeback again, possibly Tim Paine has played his last international game in 2021.

2. Chris Gayle

There’s no doubt that for our beloved Universal Boss, playing cricket seems to be eternal. Despite now turning 42, the southpaw just adores making comebacks in the T20Is. In fact, by even enduring a very inferior form in recent months, Chris Gayle just wants to play the 2022 World T20.

But unfortunately while opining against his retirement, Gayle has mentioned that the CWI won’t be keeping him for that long. The cricketer, after the 2021 T20 World Cup, also expressed his wish to retire in front of his home crowd in Jamaica. However, his bleak show in the 2021 edition of the tournament has so far omitted him for the WI’s recent international fixtures.

Overall, now with teams like Ireland and England scheduled to tour West Indies, maybe soon this king of T20s might say a final goodbye to international cricket in 2022.

3. James Anderson

For James Anderson, the year 2022 will now make him complete more than 19 years in international cricket. The legendary pacer who had made his debut almost two decades back in December 2022, is also now England’s most red-ball capped player. Even in terms of the wicket tally, Anderson tops the charts amongst all the pacers.

However with Anderson now turning 39, maybe this year the majestic herculean of swing might retire from the game. Though Anderson has often said about playing as long as he likes for England, maybe the 2022 summer might become the final destination. In fact, some of the pundits had also speculated that the ongoing tour of Ashes might just ponder the old horse to correctly think about his farewell time.

But blissfully Anderson has been amongst the pick of the bowlers for England in the mega red-ball series. Overall, even though fitness-wise the old stallion seems to be floating very well, the twilight inevitably seems to be dampening around.

4. Matthew Wade

In the 2021 T20 World Cup, the Australians finally won their maiden ICC shortest format title. In their winning campaign, even Matthew Wade exhibited his mind-boggling finesse in the semi-final. But sadly just now when the gloveman seems to be an established white-ball player, Wade might hang his international boots in 2022.

After winning the 2021 T20 World Cup title, the 34-year old has opined the 2022 edition of the event to be his last assignment in international cricket. The cricketer in his statement just laid his roadmap which is to get to the 2022 World Cup, defend the title and then blissfully sail off into the sunset.

Perhaps his retirement plans also seem to be certain merely because of getting dropped from the 2021-22 Ashes series. Overall, maybe post the 2022 World T20 event in Australia, Wade might bid goodbye to international cricket to become a dynamic T20 freelancer.

5. Imran Tahir

Well, when CSA had dropped Imran Tahir from the 2021 World T20 squad, the veteran had strongly issued his wish to play the next World Cup. Though the cricketer had also made some revelations about the board, he felt affirmative about his comeback. In fact, by actively playing all the top T20 Leagues of the world, Tahir considers his SA call-up to be strongly in the making.

However, it still looks like CSA has moved beyond the 42-year old since the 2019 World Cup. The leg-spinner had played his last international game in 2019 and since then has got fully discarded. Perhaps with his contemporary teammate Tabraiz Shamsi also being in the form of his life, Tahir’s comeback looks outlandish.

Hence inevitably this old horse might conclusively announce his retirement in 2022. If certain then Imran Tahir will finish as the second-highest wicket-taker of SA (63) in T20Is.