Rachael Haynes, the Australian women’s cricket team vice-captain, has retired from international and state cricket with immediate effect. She confirmed on Thursday that the recent Commonwealth Games gold medal triumph over India in Birmingham was her last appearance for Aussies.
Since her international debut in 2009, Haynes went on to play 6 Tests, 77 ODIs and 84 T20Is for Australia. She served as Meg Lanning‘s deputy since 2018 – a four-year period in which the Aussies won two T20 world cups, one 50-over world cup and the CWG gold medal.
Notably, Haynes will continue to play for Sydney Thunder in the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) but will not be part of the New South Wales team that stars its domestic one-day campaign in a week.
“Playing at this level isn’t possible without the support of many people. From clubs, states, coaches, family and friends, I’m so grateful to those who helped me along the way. In particular, I want to thank my parents, Ian and Jenni, and partner Leah for their unwavering support. To all the teammates across my career, you are the reason I’ve played as long as I have. You’ve inspired me to be better every day. I’ve learnt something from all of you, on and off the field. You’ve challenged me as a player, helped me grow as a person and most importantly, made cricket fun,” said Haynes in a statement as quoted by Cricket.com.au.
“One of the great things about having a long career is watching those around you develop. I’m extremely proud of the way this team has brought players in and nurtured their development. The ability to help players transition smoothly has been instrumental to our team’s success. To be a leader within this environment has been the greatest privilege of my career,” Haynes added.
