England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has officially announced his retirement from international cricket.
Morgan is one of just two England men's captains to win a World Cup and has stepped down after spending seven-and-a-half years in charge. The 35-year-old has enjoyed an illustrious playing career and retires as England's all-time leading run scorer in both ODI and T20I cricket with 6,957 and 2,458 runs respectively.
However, his lasting legacy is the overall effect he has had on English white-ball cricket, having helped transform a side which crashed out of the 2015 Cricket World Cup in the group stages into World Cup winners just four years later. "After careful deliberation and consideration, I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect," Morgan said.
"To call time on what has been without doubt the most enjoyable and rewarding chapter of my career hasn't been an easy decision, but I believe now is the right time to do so, both for me, personally, and for both England white-ball sides I have led to this point.
"From my start in the international arena with Ireland to winning the World Cup in 2019, I have never lost sight of how integral family support is to any international sportsperson. To my Mum and Dad, my wife, Tara, and our family around the world, thank you for your unconditional support throughout the good and more challenging times in my career. Without you all, this incredible journey would not have been possible.
"I must also thank my teammates, coaches, supporters, and those behind the scenes who have made my career and any successes possible. I am hugely proud of what I have achieved as a player and captain, but the things I will cherish and remember the most are the memories I made with some of the greatest people I know along the way.
"I have been lucky enough to play in two World Cup winning teams, but I believe the future for England's white-ball teams is brighter than ever. We have more experience, more strength and more depth than ever before. I look forward to watching on with a huge level of excitement.
"To what lies ahead for me, I will continue to enjoy playing at a domestic level while I can. I'm really looking forward to playing and captaining London Spirit in the second edition of The Hundred this year."
Managing Director of England Men's cricket Rob Key also paid tribute to Morgan, saying: "On behalf of the ECB and everyone involved in cricket, I'd like to thank Eoin Morgan for his outstanding contribution to the game. It will be wrong to think Eoin's legacy was just winning the World Cup in 2019; it is far greater than that.
"As with all great players and leaders, he has changed the way the game has been played, and he has changed the way an entire generation and generations to come will play this form of the game. His legacy within the game will be felt for many years to come. He is, without question, the best leader I have seen. I wish him well in the next chapter of his career."
