Caribbean pacer Shannon Gabriel announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday. Making his debut for the West Indies in 2012, the 36-year-old played 59 Tests, 25 ODIs, and two T20Is, taking a total of 202 wickets for his international team.
Shannon Gabriel last played for the West Indies in July 2023 but remains active in domestic cricket, representing Trinidad and Tobago and participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 last year. He will continue to represent his domestic side Trinidad and Tobago and franchise teams worldwide. Gabriel last represented the Caribbean side against India in 2023 at Port of Spain, where he took 2 wickets. The match ended in a draw.
Gabiel’s career
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Match-Best | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 59 | 166 | 13/121 | 3.42 |
| ODIs | 25 | 33 | 3/17 | 5.92 |
| T20Is | 2 | 3 | 3/44 | 8 |
Gabriel’s Farewell Message
Gabriel shared the news on his social media account. “Over the past 12 years, I have devoted myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies. It has been a joy to play this beloved game at the highest level, but as they say, all good things must come to an end. Today, I am announcing my retirement from international cricket,” he said.
Gabriel expressed his gratitude: “Firstly, I thank God for the blessings and opportunities my family and I have received while playing for the West Indies. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies’ administrators, coaches, and staff. Your support and hard work have been invaluable. Lastly, I am thankful to my teammates and everyone who has supported me. You’ve made my journey truly special,” he added.
Gabriel’s Impact on Test Cricket
Gabriel was most effective in Test cricket for the West Indies, where his height and strength made a significant impact, even on flat pitches. He holds the fourth-best match figures for a West Indian (13/121) achieved at home against Sri Lanka in June 2018. It took some time for him to consistently perform at this level, but by 2017, Gabriel had become a regular member of the team, contributing to notable victories, including the win against England at Headingley.
Memorable Moments and Controversies
One memorable moment in Gabriel’s career came with the bat when he faced the final overs in Dominica against Pakistan, with the West Indies nine down. Attempting a big slog to draw the Test and the series, he was bowled out with just seven balls left. This was shortly after he had a Player-of-the-Match performance to help the West Indies secure a comeback victory in the previous match. This cost the West Indies the series, as Pakistan won it 2-1.
In 2019, Gabriel faced a four-ODI ban after making a homophobic remark directed at Joe Root. He accepted the ban and apologised but later claimed the incident was exaggerated.
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