London: Irish international Ed Joyce has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket Thursday, less than a fortnight after realising his dream of playing a Test for Ireland.
“I feel now is the right time to stop playing and get started on a new chapter,” Joyce said. “The recent Test match against Pakistan was such an incredible few days and was the perfect game for me to say was my last in professional cricket.”
The 39-year-old was one of the 11 men who made history against Pakistan in Malahide earlier this month, when Ireland became the 11th Test-playing nation.
Joyce made his ODI debut for England in 2006 before switching to play for Ireland in 2011. He played three 50-over World Cups – one for England (2007) and two for Ireland (2011, 2015).
Joyce played a total of 78 ODIs (combining England and Ireland) accumulating 2622 runs with six centuries. His ODI highest score is 160 n o. He also has 18 Twenty20 internationals to his name.
Joyce, who last year ended a county career that began in 1999, will take up a backroom position with Cricket Ireland as a batting and leadership coach.
William Porterfield, Joyce’s long-time team-mate and Ireland skipper, said: “He has had such an amazing career that he can be so proud of over the past 20 or so years. For it to culminate in taking the field for Ireland’s first ever Test match was the icing on the cake, I’m sure.”
