“Age is just a number”. Well, a few prominent international cricketers have undoubtedly proved his phase right with their dominant cricketing careers that spanned over decades. Unlike a majority of cricketers who announce their early departure from international cricket for numerous reasons, a few legendary players have held their battles from the front and dominated the opponent teams with their spine-chilling innings across all formats of international cricket even after they turned forty. Have you ever wondered about the top four cricketers who have announced their retirement from international cricket after attaining fourty years of age? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four veteran cricketers who have announced their retirement from international cricket after turning forty.
Top 4 Cricketers who Retired from International Cricket After 40
Chris Gayle, West Indies – 42 Years
Often popularly referred to as “The Universal Boss”, the Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle, who played international cricket for the West Indies from 1999 to 2021, is at the first spot in our list of the top four international cricketers who defied the odds of age and played a fearless innings even after they turned forty. Widely regarded as the greatest Twenty20 batsman ever in the history of cricket, Chris Gayle was a crucial part of the West Indies squad that clinched the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, 2012 ICC World Twenty20 and 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
After witnessing a star-studded international cricketing career that spanned over 22 long years, Chris Gayle announced his official retirement at the age of 42 years after playing his career’s last T20I innings against Australia on 6 November 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
James Anderson, England – 41 Years
At the second spot in our list of the top four veteran cricketers who have announced their retirement from international cricket after turning forty, we have the legendary English cricketer James Anderson, who is currently serving as the fast-bowling mentor of the England cricket team. Often hailed as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the sport, James Anderson has picked up a total of 704 wickets in the test format, the third most wickets in international cricket, i.e. 991.
After playing his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024, James Anderson announced his official retirement from all formats of international cricket at the age of forty-one, leaving his fans entirely heartbroken.
Sachin Tendulkar, India – 41 Years
Often popularly hailed as the “God of Cricket”, the legendary Indian former international cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is at the third spot in our list of the top four veteran cricketers who have announced their retirement from international cricket after turning forty. The “Master-Blaster” of the Indian national cricket team, Sachin Tendulkar represented the Indian side across all international cricket formats from 1989 to 2013 and played a total of 200 test matches, 463 ODIs and 96 T20 matches throughout his glorious career and amassed a record total of 15,921 test runs, 18,426 ODI runs and 2,797 T20 runs.
After being the flag bearer of the Indian side for a phenomenal total of twenty-four years, the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar officially announced his retirement from international cricket on 16 November 2013 at the age of forty-one.
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka – 41 Years
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four veteran cricketers who have announced their retirement from international cricket after turning forty, we have the legendary former Sri Lankan cricketer, captain, cricket administrator and coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, who is widely hailed and regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders ever to play in the One-Day International cricket format.
One of the most crucial players of the Sri Lanka national cricket squad that clinched the 1996 Cricket World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka across all formats of international cricket from 1989 to 2011 and played a total of 110 test matches, 445 ODIs and 31 T20Is and amassed a brilliant total of 6,973 test runs, 13,430 ODI runs, 629 T20I runs and 683 T20 runs throughout his glorious international cricketing career.
After being one of the most reliable all-rounders for Sri Lanka for twenty-two long years, Sanath Jayasuriya officially announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket on 9 June 2011 after his recall to the Sri Lankan squad for the limited-overs series against England, nearing his 42nd birthday.
