Tim Murtagh bids goodbye to international cricket

Tim Murtagh, the Ireland fast bowler, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The pacer donned the national jersey for the first time in 2012 and his career lasted for seven-and-a-half years. The 38-year-old has plied his trade in three Tests, 58 ODIs and 14 T20Is in which he racked up 13, 74 and 13 wickets respectively. He also bowled Ireland’s first ball in Test cricket against Pakistan.

Apart from his Ireland career, he has been a stalwart for Middlesex in England’s domestic circuit. He played most of his cricket at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Murtagh has plied his trade in 232 first-class, 211 List A and 102 T20s where he has 1,197 wickets with 37 five-wicket hauls. While putting forth his decision of retirement, the London-born sounded a tad dejected, but he has made peace with the decision.

I have made my peace with the decision, says Tim Murtagh

“This is a day that I have known has been coming for a few years since the ECB changed their regulations, but it hasn’t made the decision any easier. I’ve had eight great years playing international cricket and loved every minute of it. It’s sad that it has come to an end but a decision that I have made my peace with,” Murtagh was quoted as saying in www.cricketireland.ie.

After honing his skills at the Lord’s since 2000, Murtagh got the privilege of playing Test cricket at the very venue. Back in July, he ripped England’s batting into shreds, churning out a spell of 9-2-13-5. The bowling spectacle shot the Brits out for 85, though Ireland lost the game in the end by 143 runs.

“A Test Match at Lord’s against England is a great way to finish my international career and a game I will always cherish. I wish the lads all the best for the winter tours and very much hope to help out and be involved in some capacity in the future,” the speedster stated.

Andrew Balbirnie, who was recently appointed as Ireland’s skipper, said that it was a delight for him, watching Murtagh from the slip cordon, bowling at the Lord’s. He mentioned that Murtagh’s fifer at the Home of Cricket has now been etched in the Irish cricket folklore. To end with, he wished the seamer for the rest of his career for Middlesex.

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