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Players who retired too early.

trundler

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Not so sure about the usefulness of that exercise. The fact that NZ had an absolutely appalling no-hoper side in 1959 who averaged 12 compared to England's 33 doesn't automatically make May better.
Tangentially related fun fact:

Bert Sutcliffe played 42 tests for NZ, a record at that time, and he won none of them. So yeah poor opposition could skew this for sure.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tangentially related fun fact:

Bert Sutcliffe played 42 tests for NZ, a record at that time, and he won none of them. So yeah poor opposition could skew this for sure.
One also has to be careful about the conditions as well. It seems to have been NZ that copped the brunt of the wet pitches in that series
 

BazBall21

International Regular
One also has to be careful about the conditions as well. It seems to have been NZ that copped the brunt of the wet pitches in that series
One also has to be careful about the conditions as well. It seems to have been NZ that copped the brunt of the wet pitches in that series
Yeah the wickets were definitely softer than the runs. Laker and Lock running riot. Lock has Lohmann style figures against NZ.
 
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Days of Grace

International Captain
While we’re on the topic of 1958-1959, Bert Sutcliffe retired at the age of 35 but then came out of retirement 6 years later for the tour of India, Pakistan, and England. Anyone know why he retired originally and how he was persuaded to return?
 

ataraxia

International Coach
While we’re on the topic of 1958-1959, Bert Sutcliffe retired at the age of 35 but then came out of retirement 6 years later for the tour of India, Pakistan, and England. Anyone know why he retired originally and how he was persuaded to return?
I think he was persuaded to come out of retirement to captain + coach/manage a very young team on a long tour.
 

Kirkut

International Regular
Would not call it a retirement but Pankaj Singh never got a game after his England tour, we will never know how good he could have been. Got Cook to nick to the slips only to be dropped by Jadeja of all fielders, got Bell lbw twice only to be given not out due to lack of drs, and this was Southampton where India lost!
 

TheJediBrah

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Would not call it a retirement but Pankaj Singh never got a game after his England tour, we will never know how good he could have been. Got Cook to nick to the slips only to be dropped by Jadeja of all fielders, got Bell lbw twice only to be given not out due to lack of drs, and this was Southampton where India lost!
cool story
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Harry Boam. Still only 31 even now - should be entering his prime. Crazy to think about.

Edit: oh beaten by Heath
 
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Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Why did he retire exactly? Was only 23 and had a promising record.
Officially to focus on his studies, but I think he may have been a bit frustrated by playing as a specialist #8 batsman so often as a young promising player.

Wellington's balance was weird with Franklin, Elliott and Woodcock occupying upper middle order spots and bowling lots.
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Officially to focus on his studies, but I think he may have been a bit frustrated by playing as a specialist #8 batsman so often as a young promising player.

Wellington's balance was weird with Franklin, Elliott and Woodcock occupying upper middle order spots and bowling lots.
Must admit I was hitherto unaware of his work but, after looking him up, given he was English-born he could likely quite easily have landed a county gig as local player.

Maybe suggests his heart just wasn't in it.
 

subshakerz

International Coach
A player retiring at their absolute peak is rare. DeVilliers did it. Imran Khan did it in 87 but then came back. Cant think of others.

The best time for any player to retire would be when they are still in relatively good form but clearly past their peak ala McGrath, Marshall and Warne.
 

Pap Finn Keighl

International Debutant
A player retiring at their absolute peak is rare. DeVilliers did it. Imran Khan did it in 87 but then came back. Cant think of others.

The best time for any player to retire would be when they are still in relatively good form but clearly past their peak ala McGrath, Marshall and Warne.
Bradman
Gavaskar in ODIs
 

Tom Flint

International Regular
A player retiring at their absolute peak is rare. DeVilliers did it. Imran Khan did it in 87 but then came back. Cant think of others.

The best time for any player to retire would be when they are still in relatively good form but clearly past their peak ala McGrath, Marshall and Warne.
Sangakara literally scored over 3000 runs in his last 4 years at about 65 avg. His last year was a smaller sample but averaged 40, you may think his form was dropping off but he then went to average about a 100 for Surrey in the cc. He is the ultimate one who retired in his peak post ww2
 

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