New Zealand’s Women’s wicketkeeper-batter Katey Martin has announced her retirement from all forms of the game on Wednesday (May 18). Having made her international debut in 2003, Martin represented New Zealand in one Test, 103 ODIs, and 95 T20Is in her 19-year international career. She last played an international game in the Women’s World Cup 2022 against Pakistan in March and scored an unbeaten 30 off 26 balls.

Martin scored nearly 2900 international runs in her career across formats with 11 fifties to her name, but could not get to the three-figure mark. Her highest in international cricket was 81 and she has played a lot of handy knocks for the side in her career. It has to be noted that her 169-game domestic one-day career is a New Zealand record for both men and women.

It’s been an incredible experience: Katey Martin

Martin was quite delighted with her experience in international cricket and showed gratitude for the people who have helped her reach the big stages. She noted about her journey in her childhood days and felt that it was very much a dream moment for all the women. She added about being emotional in her last game and revealed that it wasn’t an easy decision.

“It’s been an incredible experience. To all my teammates, coaches, opposition, fans, and friends I’ve met along the way, I want to thank you for making my time in cricket so memorable. Cricket really has given me my life – from leaving Dunedin as a youngster to attend the NZC Academy in Christchurch to traveling the world as a WHITE FERN and representing my country – it’s been a dream come true,” Martin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“I knew heading into that match it could be my last time playing for New Zealand, hence why I was quite emotional. I took some time after the tournament to talk to family and friends to solidify my decision before making it official today,” she added.

Katey Martin is one of a kind

Meanwhile, Bob Carter who coached New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup had also acknowledged Martin’s accomplishments in her career and noted her to be one of a kind.