Shannon Gabriel announces retirement from international cricket

West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a successful career that spanned nearly a decade. The 36-year-old made his debut in 2012 and went on to play 59 Tests, 25 ODIs, and two T20Is, amassing a total of 202 wickets during his time representing the West Indies at the highest level. Gabriel's contributions to the team will always be remembered by cricket fans around the world.

"During the past 12 years," Gabriel said on Instagram on Wednesday, "I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies. Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Today, I am announcing my retirement from International cricket.

"Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies. Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special.

"Moving forward, my plan is to continue representing my country [Trinidad and Tobago], club, and franchise teams around the world with the same love and passion I have shown throughout my career."

Archive: What's the big deal about Shannon Gabriel?

Gabriel was at his best in Test cricket, where he used his height and his strength to great effect, sometimes even on lifeless pitches. He holds the fourth-best match-figures for a West Indian - 13 for 121, which he picked up at home against Sri Lanka in June 2018. His ability to generate pace and bounce were impressive enough that West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh compared him to Patrick Patterson and Ian Bishop. It took a while for him to tap into these gifts consistently but by 2017 he became a regular member of the team and was part of famous wins like the one against England at Headingley.

The other big moment of Gabriel's career came with the bat, when he took strike in Dominica with West Indies nine down against Pakistan. There were only seven balls left to draw the Test, and with it, the series. He went for a big slog and got bowled. This was 10 days after he put in a Player-of-the-Match performance to help West Indies to a bounce-back victory.

Gabriel ran into further trouble in 2019 when he was banned for four ODIs for an apparent homophobic remark at Joe Root. He accepted the sanction and apologised for his behaviour but did insist, later, that the incident was blown out of proportion.

Gabriel last represented West Indies in July 2023 but has since been active in domestic cricket, playing for Trinidad and Tobago. Earlier this year, he was part of the Abu Dhabi T10 as well.