Namibian Allrounder David Wiese Bids Farewell to International Cricket
Namibian allrounder David Wiese has announced his retirement from international cricket following his team’s final group stage match against England at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Wiese, who played 54 T20Is and 15 ODIs for Namibia, received a warm sendoff from the opposition players and his own teammates as he walked off the field in North Sound after being dismissed in the final over of Namibia’s chase.
Reflecting on his decision, the 39-year-old Wiese acknowledged that the next T20 World Cup was still two years away, and at his age, he felt it was the right time to bid adieu to his international career. “I’ve had a lot of good times with Namibia, and to play my last game for them possibly at a World Cup against a world-class team like England, it just seemed like the right time,” Wiese said in the post-match press conference.
In his final international outing, Wiese was promoted up the order to No. 3 as Namibia chased a revised target of 126 in 10 overs. The veteran allrounder made a brisk 27 off 12 balls, including two fours and two sixes, before being dismissed. Despite the loss, his skipper, Gerhard Erasmus, praised Wiese’s immense contribution both on and off the field.
“Massive impact, in terms of the level of cricket he brought to our circle. He’s a great guy on the field in terms of performance but off the field he is someone we have really learned a lot from and he’s inspired us to new heights and greater heights,” Erasmus said.
England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow also acknowledged Wiese’s impressive international career, stating, “It’s a huge credit to him the career that he’s had in international cricket and he’s going to be a big miss for those guys.”
Originally from South Africa, Wiese became eligible to play for Namibia five years after his decision to go Kolpak in 2016. He made his debut for the national team in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in their progression to the Super 12 stage. Over the past three T20 World Cup campaigns, Wiese has been a standout performer for Namibia, showcasing his all-round abilities.
While Wiese’s international career has now come to an end, he may continue to ply his trade in various franchise cricket leagues around the world, having featured in the CSA T20 Challenge, PSL, SA20, Hundred, and the Blast in the last 12 months. He has been retained by the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred competition.
🔗 Source