Will Pucovski, Mark Boucher, James Taylor and 6 other cricketers who retired early amid health concerns
Cricket, like any elite sport, is often romanticised as a test of skill, temperament, and endurance. But for some players, it has also been a reminder of life’s unpredictability.
While many legends bow out on their own terms, others are not so fortunate — forced into early retirement by injury or underlying health conditions.
Following Tuesday’s sad news that former Australia opener Will Pucovski was calling time on his career due to the effects of concussion, we dug through the archives to find which other international cricketers were forced to bow out of the game because their bodies gave them no other choice.
1. James Taylor (England)
Tests: 7 | ODIs: 27
A gifted middle-order batsman with a solid technique and an exemplary attitude, James Taylor was widely seen as a future mainstay of England’s Test team.
After making his debut in 2011, Taylor began to find his footing in international cricket and was becoming a regular presence in the ODI setup, even captaining England in one game. In 2016, at just 26 years old, Taylor was diagnosed with ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy), a rare and potentially fatal heart condition.
He announced his retirement days later. It was a heartbreaking end for a player who had only just begun to realise his potential. Since his retirement, Taylor has remained involved in the game through commentary and a stint on England’s selection panel.
2. Mark Boucher (South Africa)
Tests: 147 | ODIs: 295
One of the finest wicketkeepers in the history of the game, Mark Boucher was closing in on 1,000 international dismissals when a freak accident during a warm-up match in 2012 brought his career to a sudden halt.
While standing behind the stumps during a tour game against Somerset, a bail ricocheted off the stumps and struck Boucher in the eye after Imran Tahir bowled Geraint Jones.
The injury caused severe damage to his left eye, leaving him partially blind and unable to continue his career. Boucher was 35 at the time and still playing at a high level. His departure left a void in South Africa’s setup, one that arguably took years to fill.
3. Will Pucovski (Australia)
Tests: 1
An incredibly talented opener, Will Pucovski’s technique and temperament saw him tagged early as a future cornerstone of Australia’s Test team. He scored a mountain of runs in domestic cricket and finally broke into the Test side in early 2021, making a composed 62 on debut against India.
But Pucovski’s career was plagued by serious and repeated concussions — he suffered more than ten throughout his career, including several in non-cricket contexts. The cumulative effect of these head injuries took a toll on his mental and physical wellbeing eventually forcing him to confirm his retirement from the game on Tuesday.
4. Pite van Biljon (South Africa)
T20Is: 10
Pite van Biljon was a late bloomer in international cricket. A powerful middle-order batsman known for his domestic exploits; he earned a T20I debut for South Africa at age 33.
While he didn’t have the most prolific international record, he remained an important figure in the domestic scene and a potential T20 utility player. In late 2023, van Biljon was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate attention.
Medical advice prompted him to walk away from the game entirely, ending his professional career at 37. It was a harsh reminder that even seasoned, physically fit athletes can be blindsided by health challenges.
5. Michael Yardy (England)
Tests: 2 | ODIs: 28 | T20Is: 14
An unorthodox but effective left-arm spinner and a capable lower-order batsman, Mike Yardy was part of England’s squad that won the 2010 T20 World Cup.
However, during the 2011 World Cup, Yardy withdrew from the squad due to severe depression — a condition he had reportedly battled throughout his life. Although he continued playing domestic cricket afterward, Yardy never returned to the international stage.
His openness about mental health issues was groundbreaking at the time and helped pave the way for future players to talk more freely about psychological struggles.
6. Craig Kieswetter (England)
ODIs: 46 | T20Is: 25
England’s match-winner in the 2010 T20 World Cup final, Craig Kieswetter was an explosive wicketkeeper-batsman with a bright future. He started his career in South Africa but after representing South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup in 2006, he went on to qualify for England.
In 2014, while batting in a county match, Kieswetter was struck in the face by a David Willey bouncer. Despite wearing a helmet, the ball made it through the visor and causing multiple fractures to his nose and eye socket.
The result was damage to his vision. Despite an attempt at a comeback, Kieswetter never regained full confidence and sharpness with the bat. In 2015, at just 27, he retired from professional cricket. His loss was deeply felt in the English white-ball setup.
7. Nathan Bracken (Australia)
Tests: 5 | ODIs: 116
A skilful left-arm pacer known for his control and variation; Bracken was a mainstay in Australia’s ODI team during the mid-2000s. He was part of the 2007 World Cup-winning squad and at the peak of his powers was ranked as the world’s number one ODI bowler.
Recurring knee injuries curtailed his career prematurely, and he retired in 2011 after multiple surgeries despite a massive offer from IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Bracken later sued Cricket Australia, claiming negligence in the management of his injuries – a case that shed light on the pressures of playing through pain in elite sport.
8. Saba Karim (India)
ODIs: 34 | Tests: 1
A solid wicketkeeper-batsman, Saba Karim finally earned his India cap in the late 1990s after years of consistent domestic performances. But just as he began establishing himself, he was hit in the eye by a ball while standing up to the wicket keeping to Anil Kumble during an Asia Cup match in 2000.
The injury led to lasting vision problems and forced him to retire. Karim later moved into administrative roles and served as a national selector and a high-ranking BCCI official.
9. Nari Contractor (India)
Tests: 31
Perhaps not a name that modern fans of the game will remember, Contractor played international cricket in the late 1950s and early 1960s, his story is perhaps the most chilling.
In 1962, he was hit on the head by a Charlie Griffith bouncer during India’s tour of the West Indies. It was a bad blow that required emergency surgery and multiple follow up operations.
He never played another Test. It was Contractor’s near-death experience which played a major role in changing the perception of safety in cricket and which eventually led to the introduction of better protective gear – although helmets only became mainstream in the late 1970s.
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