Yenda product Alex Blackwell has retired from international and state cricket after a distinguished career.
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The 34-year-old is Australia’s most capped female player, taking part in 251 matches across formats since her debut in 2003.
Blackwell said she was pleased to be able to leave the game while still feeling like she has more to give.
“I think it is really nice to be able to retire at a point where my game has never been stronger, and I'm becoming increasingly interested in the opportunities that lie ahead that may require my playing days to wrap up,” she said
“I will enjoy the opportunities to play for the Sydney Thunder I still have another year on my current contract, and I look forward to that.
Those opportunities that I am interested in are general life opportunities. Probably the one priority now is time with my family.”
Blackwell compiled 5250 runs batting in the middle order for Australia in the Test, Twenty20 and one-day arenas, becoming just the fourth Australian to pass 5000 runs in a career that spanned more than 14 years.
She was part of part of two World Cup victories for Australia in 2005 and 2013 plus two World T20 winning sides in 2012 and 2014.
Blackwell pointed to the success at the 2010 World T20 as one of the finer points of her career.
“Difficult to pinpoint one moment but captaining Australia to a T20 World Cup victory in 2010 in Barbados, a wonderful place to travel and play cricket,” she said.
“We defended 106 in a World Cup final in T20 which is really unheard of and that moment with Ellyse Perry bowling the last ball and getting a boot on it and that moment when we had actually won a T20 title for Australia really does stand out.”
The Yenda product also thanked her parents for the time and dedication early in her cricketing ventures which involved many weekends on the road.
“I'd like to thank my family, and particularly my parents as a kid from the country driving my twin sister Kate and I around to all the cricket grounds in Hay, Wagga, Griffith and all of the Riverina and also those long journey's to Sydney,” she said.
“I couldn't have been the cricketer I am without the encouragement and opportunities they provided.”
She will play her last game for NSW in the WNCL final on Saturday as the Breakers look for their 19th title from 22 editions.
“I let the Breakers know my decision after our game in Hobart so that we could really enjoy this week,” she said.
“I'm setting myself to enjoy the week as best as I can to bring the Ruth Preddey Cup back here. She has been here for many years and is pretty comfortable here.”