England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has confirmed his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, ending a decorated career that saw him win both the T20 and ODI World Cups.
Morgan, 35, will continue to play domestic cricket, but has called time on an extraordinary international career that started with Ireland, where he grew up, before continuing with England in all three formats.
He retires as England’s most-capped ODI and T20 player. He also played 16 Tests, scoring two hundreds, but has effectively been a white-ball specialist for a decade.
Morgan’s greatest impact has come as England captain, since the 2015 World Cup. He oversaw a transformation in English white-ball cricket that saw them win the 2019 World Cup on home soil, and consistently reach the knockout stages of other global events.
Morgan has struggled with form and fitness lately, and made the decision to retire after the tour of the Netherlands, where he registered two ducks and missed the third game with a groin strain. He will be replaced by Jos Buttler, a close friend, later this week.
"After careful deliberation and consideration, I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect,” said Morgan.
"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.”
Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket, paid tribute to Morgan: "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.”
Brendon McCullum, England’s Test coach and one of Morgan’s great friends, was also among the first to pay tribute.
Eoin Morgan is, without question, the best leader I have ever seen
“Time stands still for no man,” he said. “The impact he has had on English cricket and world cricket has been significant. A World Cup winner, but it’s the story of him taking over and where they’ve got to, how cricket is now played around the world.
“The players he has brought through, some of the game’s most exciting players, superstars of the modern game. They might have got there anyway, but I think he got them there quicker because of the approach he took.
“He’s a tremendous leader, a fine human being and I am looking forward to catching up with him, sharing a couple of red and celebrating what’s been a remarkable career as well.”
