New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned more than a decade. The 35-year-old, who last represented the Black Caps in a Test match in 2023, made the decision after struggling with a persistent rib injury that ruled him out of domestic cricket this season.
Bracewell had been sidelined from action for Central Districts due to ongoing fitness concerns and remained hopeful of extending his playing career. However, the physical demands of the game and recurring injury setbacks eventually forced him to step away. His final international appearance came against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2023, marking the end of his journey with the national side.
A career defined by Hobart heroics: Doug Bracewell
Between 2011 and 2023, Bracewell featured in 69 international matches for New Zealand, playing 28 Tests, 21 ODIs and 20 T20Is. His most iconic performance came early in his career during the 2011 Hobart Test against Australia. In just his third Test appearance, Bracewell produced match-winning figures of 9 for 60, including a devastating second-innings spell that powered New Zealand to a dramatic seven-run victory.
That historic win ended New Zealand’s 26-year wait for a Test victory in Australia and remains the country’s last Test triumph on Australian soil. Across his Test career, Bracewell claimed 74 wickets at an average of 38.82 and added 568 runs with the bat. In limited-overs cricket, he picked up 26 wickets in ODIs and 20 in T20Is, finishing with 120 international wickets and 915 runs overall.
Reflecting on his career, Bracewell expressed gratitude for the opportunities the game provided. “It’s been a proud part of my life and something I aspired to as a young cricketer. I will always be grateful for the chance to play for my country and for Central Districts throughout my domestic career. It’s a privilege to play first-class and international cricket, and I’m thankful to have enjoyed the game for as long as I have,” he said in a statement released by Central Districts.
At the domestic level, Bracewell enjoyed a long and successful stint with Central Districts, achieving the rare double of scoring over 4,000 runs and taking more than 400 wickets in New Zealand first-class cricket. In 137 first-class matches, he claimed 437 wickets at an average of 31.08 and scored 4,505 runs, including three centuries.
Bracewell also featured in several franchise leagues during his career, representing the Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2012, Joburg Super Kings in SA20 2024, and the Central Stags in the Global Super League earlier this year.
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