Katey Martin, the experienced New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter, has announced her retirement from competitive cricket. Martin put an end to her 21-year-old career on Wednesday (May 18), with the home World Cup in March-April proving to be her last assignment for the White Ferns and the Fairbreak Invitational T20 in Dubai being her farewell ground domestically.
Making her top-level debut in 2003 with a standalone Test against India – which will remain her only Test outing – Martin also went on to feature for New Zealand in 103 ODIs and 195 T20Is. Establishing herself as an integral member of the Kiwi set-up in the two white-ball versions of the game, the 37-year-old made nearly 3,000 international runs and proved a mighty effective glover behind the stumps.
“It’s been an incredible experience. To all my team-mates, coaches, opposition, fans and friends I’ve met along the way, I want to thank you for making my time in cricket so memorable.”
“Cricket really has given me my life – from leaving Dunedin as a youngster to attend the NZC Academy in Christchurch, to traveling the world as a White Fern and representing my country – it’s been a dream come true.”
Martin said of her playing career in a statement.
Martin didn’t have the best of final days in international cricket, with the cricketer on her last leg recording only 149 runs from six innings at the World Cup in home conditions with a strike-rate of 85.63. But the New Zealand cricket fraternity will remember her for her overall brilliant efforts in the past two decades.
Martin mentioned she had decided to call time on her international career the moment New Zealand’s World Cup campaign came to an with a league-stage finish via the match against Pakistan on March 26 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The veteran has indicated she will be involved with the game via commentary and coaching, as she remains “passionate” about the sport and the idea to leave it in a better place. She said she wants to help develop a new set of keepers for New Zealand in the near future.
