New Zealand quick Hamish Bennett to retire from all cricket after 2021-22 season

New Zealand quick Hamish Bennett has announced his retirement from all cricket, bringing the curtains down on a 17-year long career. The 35-year old, who has represented the New Zealand U-19 side, the senior men's team and domestic teams Wellington and Canterbury, has said that the 2021-22 season will be his last.

"When I started out as a young kid bowling in the nets in Timaru, I never dreamed I would have gone on to enjoy the career that I've had," Bennett was quoted as saying by nzc.nz.

"From Old Boys Timaru Cricket Club who got me involved in cricket at the start, Timaru Boys' High School, South Canterbury Cricket, Canterbury Cricket, Cricket Wellington, and New Zealand Cricket, as well as all the other great clubs I've played for down the years, they've all played a role in helping me achieve my cricket dream. I've been so fortunate to work and play alongside so many great players, captains and coaches and I'd like to thank every one of them for their support over the years."

Bennett made his international debut in October 2010, taking three wickets in the fourth ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur. His last match in New Zealand colours was also against the same opponents at the same venue, in the fourth T20I in September 2021. In all, he picked up 33 wickets in 19 ODIs and ten wickets in 11 T20Is.

He made his Test debut alongside current New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in the first match against India in Ahmedabad in 2010, but ended up bowling just 15 wicketless overs in the game after picking up a groin strain, and never made it back into the Test side after that.

Bennett made his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2005 and played till the 2015-16 season, before moving to Wellington. In all, he has 261 wickets in 79 first-class matches, 160 wickets in 112 List A games and 78 wickets in 87 T20s. He has won 12 domestic titles, including five Plunket Shields, two Ford Trophy titles, four Super Smash titles and one Super Smash trophy as Wellington Blaze's coach.

He was part of New Zealand's 2011 World Cup side where he played four matches, following which he was out for three years before returning to play two ODIs against India at home in 2014.

Bennett was awarded for his consistency and success with the Wellington side in domestic cricket by earning a recall into the ODI and T20I sides for the series against India in January 2020, playing what would turn out to be his last ODI in February that year. He was also part of the home T20I series against West Indies later that year, and the Bangladesh tour in September 2021.

"Men's and women's cricket in New Zealand is in an exciting place, so I'm looking forward to putting the feet up and watching the game grow from the sidelines," Bennett said.

"It's been an honour to represent my family and my country for New Zealand and those memories and experiences will be ones that I cherish and tell stories about for the rest of my life."

Bennett though will continue playing for the Old Tablelands Cricket Club in Martinborough, while also pursuing a career in coaching.