Home Cricket Facts New Zealand’s Hamish Rutherford announces retirement from professional cricket

New Zealand’s Hamish Rutherford announces retirement from professional cricket

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New Zealand’s Hamish Rutherford announces retirement from professional cricket


New Zealand and Otago opener Hamish Rutherford has announced his retirement from professional cricket and will play the final match of his cricket career next week. He will play in Otago’s Super Smash clash against Northern Districts in Dunedin. Hamish Rutherford will end a career that spanned 16 years, starting in 2008, and in which he has scored 16,468 so far across all formats.

Hamish Rutherford played 16 Tests for New Zealand as part of his 130 first-class games and scored 171 on debut against England in 2013. He made 7,863 runs in first-class cricket, averaging 35.26 with 17 centuries to his name. . Rutherford played only four ODIs but has a total of 127 List A games in which he scored 4326 runs with 13 centuries. Hamish Rutherford has also appeared in 192 T20s, including eight T20Is in which he amassed 4279 runs at a strike rate of 141.50.

“It has been a privilege to play for Otago and be part of this iconic province,” he said in a statement. “While playing for New Zealand has always been my dream, I am grateful for the opportunities cricket has given me and my family. I have loved every minute. “I appreciate all the support I have had from family and friends, fellow players, coaches and fans of the province.”

Hamish Rutherford will retire as one of Otago’s greatest cricketers, says Otago chief executive

Hamish Rutherford will retire with the most T20s played for Otago. He broke Neil Broom’s record earlier this month. Overall, he will retire having played the third-most matches for Otago across all formats, behind Broom (348) and Derek de Boorder (292). Speaking about his career, the Otago chief executive spoke of how his contribution to Otago cricket is immense and how he will be considered one of Otago’s greats.

“Hamish will undoubtedly be considered one of Otago’s greats,” Otago Cricket chief executive Mike Coggan said. “I have seen him play innings that very few cricketers are capable of doing. He has been a cheerleader at the top of the innings and has my utmost respect as a player and person. His contribution to Otago Cricket has been immense.”

Hamish Rutherford has played numerous memorable innings for Otago and Mike Coggan reminded him a lot of one of them, which was in 2020 when he smashed 155 off 100 deliveries against Central Districts. He is one of the few New Zealand players to score a hundred on his Test debut and is one of the greatest domestic players of all time. Hamish Rutherford will be honored by Otago Cricket after his final match on January 23.

Hamish Rutherford played his last international match against Sri Lanka in 2019. It was a T20 match and he last appeared for New Zealand in Test cricket in 2015 against the same opponents at Basin Reserve. He has played just four ODIs for New Zealand and has never tasted any success in the format. In 29 innings of his Test career, he scored 755 runs at an average of 26.96 and smashed one and a half centuries.