Ireland's Shauna Kavanagh retires from international cricket

Ireland's middle-order batter Shauna Kavanagh has announced her retirement from international cricket. The 31-year-old cricketer, who has been a good performer in Ireland's cricketing journey, has decided to hang up her international boots after a noteworthy career spanning over a decade.

Having played 27 ODIs and 58 T20Is, Kavanagh's journey in international cricket was punctuated with remarkable contributions. Her last appearance on the international stage was in September 2022 during the T20 World Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh. Despite being picked for the recent T20Is against Netherlands, Kavanagh did not have the chance to step onto the field.

Kavanagh's international career included being part of the 2016 and 2018 T20 World Cups, and she was also in the squad for this year's edition. Her passion for the sport remains undiminished, as she plans to continue her cricketing journey with her club, the Pembroke Cricket Club, and as a member of the Scorchers in the Evoke Super Series.

"The decision to retire from international cricket is something I have been thinking about for a little while and now feels like the right time to finish my playing journey with Ireland." She added, "Playing cricket for Ireland has been a significant part of my life for a very long time and there is no doubt this will be an emotional transition," Kavanagh was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Ed Joyce, Ireland Women's head coach, commended her as an outstanding team player who consistently sought to enhance her skills and tried to improve. He highlighted Kavanagh's decision to acquire wicketkeeping skills later in her career as a testament to her commitment to the team's needs.

"Shauna is the quintessential team-player, a hard-working professional who was always seeking to improve and grow her game. Even to make the decision to develop wicketkeeping skills late in her career exemplifies how she always had one eye on the team's needs, and with hard work has become a really proficient keeper," said Joyce.

"She will be missed greatly, but will continue to feature in the Super Series where she can share her experience and knowledge with the next crop of players coming through the system, he added." 

As Ireland bids farewell to Kavanagh, Laura Delany, Ireland's captain, underlined her role as a brilliant role model for young talents. Delany emphasized Kavanagh's work ethic, commitment to the team, and the unwavering support she offered her teammates throughout the years.