Image courtesy of: The Telegraph
Price was ranked second on the ICC ODI rankings for bowlers in 2009
Zimbabwe left-arm spinner Ray Price has announced his retirement from international cricket effective immediately, despite being included in the national team for their ongoing series against India.
It was widely reported that this series would have been the 37-year-old’s last, but with Zimbabwe’s national contracts expiring at the end of the series, he decided to call it a day.
“I was going to wait until my contract expired to call it a day but, yes, I’ve decided to retire from international cricket,” Price told ESPNcricinfo. “I won’t be going with the guys to Bulawayo. I’m retired.”
In a career spanning 14 years, Price took 100 ODI wickets from 102 ODIs, 80 Test wickets from 22 Test matches and 13 wickets in 16 Twenty20 Internationals.
“Pricey’s called it a day,” Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor said. “If he was going to play it was going to be here in Harare. We’re going to miss his experience, but in saying that it does give our young spinners who are coming through a great opportunity.”
Price had his best year in 2009 as he took 44 wickets at an average of 20.61 and was even ranked second on the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings for bowlers.
“He’s a hell of a competitor,” Taylor said. “He’s a guy that plays with his heart on his sleeve. He leaves nothing out on the field, he’ll give you everything and he’s a real team man. Unfortunately age is not on his side anymore, and he’s moving on with his family.
“We’ll miss him, but I’m sure he’ll still be in the picture with our young spinners coming through and I’m sure he’ll always be contributing somewhere along the line.”
Price will now run the sports equipment shop at Harare Sports Club, while also spending time with his family and one other passion in life, fishing.