Doug Bracewell, a New Zealand all-rounder, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, marking the end of a ten-year career. The 35-year-old, who last played for the Black Caps in a Test match in 2023, opted to retire after dealing with a prolonged rib injury that kept him out of domestic action this season.
Bracewell’s decision to retire stems from chronic fitness concerns, namely a rib injury that prevented him from participating for Central Districts during the current domestic season. While he hoped to continue playing, the physical demands compelled him to retire. His final international appearance was against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2023.
Between 2011 and 2023, Bracewell played 69 international matches for New Zealand in various forms, including 28 Tests, 21 ODIs, and 20 T20Is. His greatest moment occurred in only his third Test against Australia in Hobart in 2011. Bracewell finished with 9 for 60, including a second-innings spell, as New Zealand won by seven runs. That victory ended a 26-year wait for a Test victory in Australia and remains New Zealand’s sole Test victory on Australian territory.
“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 opportunities I have had through cricket, and the chance to play for my country, as well as for Central Districts, throughout my domestic career. It’s a privilege to play first-class and international cricket, and I’m grateful to have played and enjoyed the game for as long as I have,” Bracewell said via a statement from Central Districts.
Doug Bracewell ended with 120 international wickets
In Test cricket, Bracewell finished with 74 wickets at an average of 38.82 and also contributed 568 runs. In white-ball formats, he picked up 26 wickets in ODIs and 20 in T20Is. Across his international career, he took 120 wickets and scored 915 runs.
At the domestic level, he enjoyed a long and productive career with Central Districts. He retires with the rare feat of scoring over 4,000 runs and taking more than 400 wickets in New Zealand first-class cricket. In 137 first-class matches, Bracewell took 437 wickets at 31.08 and scored 4,505 runs, including three centuries. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old has also featured in franchise leagues, representing the Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2012, the Joburg Super Kings in SA20 2024, and the Central Stags in the Global Super League earlier this year.
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