Adam Wheater to retire from professional cricket after 2022 season

In the latest development, Adam Wheater has announced his retirement from professional cricket after the 2022 season. In a total of 380 domestic appearances, the Essex wicketkeeper has garnered 10,876 runs and has recorded 386 catches and 64 stumpings. 

Wheater made his first-class debut in 2008 but cemented his place in the 2011 season. Then, however, he shot into the limelight after scoring a terrific 164 against Northamptonshire in the same edition. 

Then, the 32-year-old featured for Hampshire County from 2013 to 2016. In the 2014 edition of the County Championship, he amassed 610 runs in 20 innings and played a crucial role in securing a title victory for the team.

Then he came back to the Essex set-up and was a part of the team's championship victories in the 2017 and 2019 editions, The 2017 edition was the first title victory for the County after a gap of 25 years, and the team became the first side in the history of domestic cricket to claim a County Championship and T20 double in 2019. 

In an inaugural edition of the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020, the wicketkeeper scored 291 runs at an average of 58.20 and helped Essex lift the trophy. 

Wheater opened up on his retirement and said, "It's been a tough call to make, but the timing feels right, and I'm pleased to be going out on my own terms."

"I've had a great time at both Essex and Hampshire. Not many players get the opportunity to play for their boyhood club, so to be able to do that has been a dream, and to be able to win the things we've won, I couldn't have asked for more."

"I'm looking forward to whatever comes next, but until then I'm fully committed to helping Anthony McGrath, and this side secure more silverware," the wicketkeeper added.