On Wednesday (November 1), England all-rounder David Willey announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 33-year-old pacer announced on his official X account that he will not play for England after the 2023 World Cup.
David Willey has been one of England’s few bright lights thus far in this World Cup. He has only had three opportunities to play, but he has taken five wickets and scored 42 runs for the side.
Willey previously played for England against India in the 2023 World Cup, where Rohit Sharma hammered him for two sixes and a four in the same over. On Sunday (October 29), he finished with numbers of 3/45 in a low-scoring encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Willey’s announcement on X elicited varied emotions from viewers. Some thought he was retiring too soon, while others said they will miss him. Others joked that Rohit Sharma had terminated his career.
Here are some of the most common responses:
“My decision has nothing to do with our performance in the World Cup” – David Willey
David Willey sent a lengthy note informing followers of his intention to retire. He expressed his desire to wear the England shirt and represent the country in international competitions.
David Willey also stated that his choice had nothing to do with England’s poor performance in the present World Cup.
“I feel I still have a lot more to give on and off the field while I am still playing my best cricket, and my decision has nothing to do with our performance during the World Cup.”
David Willey
David Willey will keep playing in T20 competitions throughout the world. In the next ILT20 competition, he will represent the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while in the IPL, he will represent the Royal Challengers Bangalore.