Todd Astle announces retirement from professional cricket


image-le76g81iTodd Astle played for New Zealand between 2012 and 2021 [Source: Twitter]

New Zealand cricketer Todd Astle has announced retirement from all formats of cricket, which include international and domestic. The leg-spinner represented the Black Caps in five Tests, nine One-Day Internationals, and five T20Is between 2012 and 2021. 

The 36-year-old has already left red-ball cricket in 2020, to focus more on white-ball cricket. In an Instagram post, Astle thanked New Zealand Cricket and Canterbury for their role in his success as a player.

"Thanks for the memories. Thanks for the experiences, the learning and the growing.Thanks for the adversity, the people and of course the incredible journey it has been.

"It's time to finish as a player after 18 seasons and I can't help but feel but feel so proud of what you've taught and given me. It certainly has been a roller coaster with twists and turns along the way, but that's what makes the game so rewarding. I finish still enjoying the game and loving my craft. What an honour it has been to represent NZ as a Blackcap, my beloved Canterbury and also club OBC [Old Boys Collegians]."

Astle's final professional game was in the Super Smash Final last Saturday, where he played for Canterbury. 

In First-Class cricket, the Palmerston North-born claimed 334 wickets and scored 4,345 runs. He picked up 98 and 78 wickets in List-A and T20 cricket, respectively. 

Astle is Canterbury's highest-wicket taker in FC cricket. 

Interestingly, he was New Zealand's third-highest run-getter in the 2005-06 ICC U19 World Cup. 

​He has won both the Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy titles in domestic cricket and was a member of the New Zealand squad that reached the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.