ED JOYCE AND Tim Murtagh have retired from T20 International cricket with immediate effect, Cricket Ireland announced today.
Joyce represented Ireland at both the 2012 and 2014 Twenty20 World Cups in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“I feel now is the right time to concentrate on the two longer formats of the game for Ireland,” Joyce said, following the announcement.
“With potentially more ODIs in the next few years and the possibility of Test cricket in the near future as well, I feel like I’d be able to contribute more in these formats if I stop playing 20/20,” the 36-year-old Bray native explained.
“Added to this is the emergence of exciting young batsman Andy Balbirnie, so I know the T20 team should be in good hands going forward.”
In addition, 33-year-old Murtagh gave similar reasons for calling it quits.
“I haven’t played much T20 cricket for Middlesex recently. There’s such a busy schedule these days, and with a lot of cricket coming up for Ireland and Middlesex, I’m now maybe at an age as a bowler where some formats of the game are having to take priority.
“I’ve been hugely grateful to have been given the chance to play T20 international cricket for Ireland and I’m certainly looking forward to hopefully playing many more games in the other formats.”
Chairman of Selectors Alan Lewis paid tribute to both players saying: “It came as no surprise that Ed and Tim have announced their retirements from T20 international cricket.
“Both players are the wrong side of 30 ,but the heartening piece for us is their total commitment to the longer formats and ultimately our desire to play Test cricket in the future.
“Wise men make the right decisions at the right time and this is no different. I can’t speak highly enough of both.
“They are hugely valuable to us in the longer formats and when you also consider their county commitments their decision is fully understandable.”
Meanwhile, Ireland will announce their squads for the T20I series against Scotland and the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers this Friday.
Originally published Wednesday at 18.08
