Top New Zealand Batter Announces End of International Career

Published at: January 9, 2025 11:35 AM

Updated at: January 10, 2025 7:41 AM

New Zealand's opening batsman Martin Guptill has announced his retirement from international cricket but plans to continue playing in franchise leagues.

In a statement to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Guptill expressed his gratitude, saying, “As a young boy, it was always my dream to represent New Zealand, and I feel incredibly fortunate and proud to have played 367 matches for my country.” Having accumulated over 13,000 runs across various international formats, Guptill shared that playing for his country and wearing the silver fern will always be a cherished memory.

He also took the opportunity to thank his teammates and coaches, especially Mark O’Donnell, who has been with him since his Under-19 days, providing valuable support throughout his career.

Finally, Guptill expressed his appreciation for the fans, both in New Zealand and worldwide, for their unwavering support over the years.

At the time of his retirement, Guptill stands as New Zealand's fifth-highest run scorer with a total of 13,463 runs. Only Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum, Stephen Fleming, and Ross Taylor have scored more runs than him.

In the 2015 ODI World Cup, Guptill was the tournament's top scorer with 547 runs. He famously scored 237 runs off 163 balls against the West Indies, setting the record for the highest individual score in a World Cup match and the second-highest in ODI history.

Guptill is among the many international players who have signed up for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 players draft, scheduled for January 13 in Lahore.