New Zealand fast bowler Hamish Bennett announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday, ending a 17-year professional career. Bennett stated he would retire after the 2021-22 season.
Bennett has played 31 internationals for New Zealand across all three formats, taking 43 wickets in the process. He most recently played in the T20Is against Bangladesh in September.
In 2010, Bennett made his Black Caps debut against Bangladesh in an ODI and played his lone Test a month later against India in Ahmedabad.
He was selected for the 2011 World Cup, but was sidelined afterwards because of a lower-back injury, which ultimately required him to undergo a major operation the following year. Despite his injury curtailing his New Zealand career, he remained a key member of Canterbury and Wellington sides, the latter being the domestic side to which he switched in 2016.
“When I started out as a young kid bowling in the nets in Timaru, I never dreamed I would have gone on to enjoy the career that I’ve had,” Bennett said in a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
“From Old Boys Timaru Cricket Club, who got me involved in cricket at the start, Timaru Boys’ High School, South Canterbury Cricket, Canterbury Cricket, Cricket Wellington, and New Zealand Cricket, as well as all the other great clubs I’ve played for down the years, they’ve all played a role in helping me achieve my cricket dream,” he added.
Bennett has played 265 domestic matches since he made his debut in 2005, taking 489 wickets. In that time, he won 12 domestic titles including five Plunket Shields, two Ford Trophy titles, four men’s Super Smash titles and a women’s Super Smash title as Wellington Blaze’s bowling coach.
“I’ve been so fortunate to work and play alongside so many great players, captains and coaches and I’d like to thank every one of them for their support over the years. It’s been an honour to represent my family and my country for New Zealand and those memories and experiences will be ones that I cherish and tell stories about for the rest of my life,” the pacer said.