New Zealand’s wicket-keeper and middle-order batter Katey Martin drew curtains on her illustrious cricketing career on May 18, 2022, when she decided to bid adieu to the game.
The 37-year-old who last played international cricket on March 26 this year during the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand made her debut in 2003. Since her debut, she featured in one Test, 103 ODIs and 95 T20Is. In March 2021, at the age of 36 years and 24 days, she became the oldest player to represent New Zealand in a Women’s T20I match in their series against England. With 199 international appearances, she was just one shy of completing a double century of international matches. The right-handed attacking batter muscled 2838 international runs, including 11 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, she claimed 139 dismissals across formats.
At the domestic level, the wicket-keeper-bat played for Otago. She played 169 domestic one-day matches, which is the highest across men’s and women’s domestic cricket in New Zealand. Apart from this, she has featured in global T20 competitions like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and Fairbreak Global Invitational T20 Tournament in Dubai for Melbourne Stars and Tornadoes respectively. Playing for Tornadoes in the inaugural season of Fairbreak tournament, she was a part of the winning Tornadoes squad that clinched the maiden title.
Calling retirement from all forms of cricket after 21 years, Katey Martin has her post-retirement plans ready 😍#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/sZ6MbQuPXA
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) May 18, 2022
Calling it quits from a game which she played for more than two decades could have been one of the toughest decisions of her life. However with her future plans already in place, Martin does not have time to sit and think about her decision. She has hinted that she would like to take up cricket commentary and cricket coaching in the future. After New Zealand made their exit from the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Martin was seen in the commentary box expressing her views. Prior to that, she also commentated during the men’s Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh. With regards to coaching, she emphasized that she would like to develop a new generation of cricketers through her experience that she has gained over the years.
There is seldom any doubt that Martin would excel in whichever field she choses in the future. Female Cricket, thus takes this opportunity to thank Katey Martin for her wonderful service to the women’s sport and wishes her all the very best for her second innings.
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I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.