List Of 10 Popular Cricketers Who Took Retirement In Their 30s: Steve Smith, Ben Stokes And Others

By Ridam Sharma
Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:32 PM (IST)

Source:JND

Cricketers Who Retired in Their 30s: Cricket has witnessed numerous players retiring in their early careers. Retirement in cricket has even happened during the prime of talented cricketers' careers. Although the average retirement age for cricketers is between 37-40, certain players opt to retire in their early 30s or mid-30s and majorly because of injuries, mental load, or personal issues. Such cricketers have already made a long-lasting legacy despite retiring early. Their choices reflect the pitfalls of contemporary cricket and the demand of the sport for physical well-being, mental well-being, and professional obligations. From Ben Stokee to Steve Smith Below is a list of ten prominent cricketers who retired in their 30s.

Cricketers Who Retired in Their 30s:

Cricketer	Country	Age at Retirement
Steve Smith	Australia	33
Ben Stokes	England	31
Michael Clarke	Australia	34
Graeme Smith	South Africa	33
Andrew Flintoff	England	33
Shane Bond	New Zealand	34
Thisara Perera	Sri Lanka	32
Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	35
Mohammad Amir	Pakistan	28 (early retirement)
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	Multiple retirements

1. Steve Smith (Australia)

A legendary Test batsman and a former Australian captain Steve Smith quits ODI cricket following Australia's semi-final loss against India at the Champions Trophy. However, the player will continue to be available for Tests and T20Is.

2. Ben Stokes (England)

The English all-rounder stepped down from ODIs at only 31, stating the unsustainable mental strain of playing in all three formats. Ben Stokes subsequently reconsidered his decision for a short while during the ODI World Cup but still gave priority to Tests and T20s.

3. Michael Clarke (Australia)

Michael Clarke, the World Cup-winning captain of Australia, retired at the age of 34 following repeat injuries and inconsistent runs in his last years.

4. Graeme Smith (South Africa)

South Africa's longest Test captain, G Smith resigned at 33 to give all his attention to his growing family and because of a loss of form.

5. Andrew Flintoff (England)

The flamboyant English all-rounder quit at 33 following battles with injuries that kind-off wrecked his career.

6. Shane Bond (New Zealand)

Shane Bond was known for his deadly pace bowling. He quit the sport at 34 following ongoing injuries that restricted him from playing constantly.

7. Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera hung up his international boots at 32 to concentrate on domestic leagues and personal aspirations.

8. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

McCullum left the game at 35 following a successful career as one of the game's most explosive batsmen and captains.

9. Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)

Mohammad Amir stunned the cricketing world with his early retirement at the age of 28 as reportedly, he was going through mental health issues and was not happy with team management.

10. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi made several retirements during his career but retired from international cricket in his mid-30s.