Trisha Chetty retires from all cricket with 'no regrets and a full heart'

South Africa wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty has retired from all cricket, bringing the curtains down on a 21-year domestic and 16-year international career. Chetty retires because of a recurring back injury which also made her miss last month's T20 World Cup at home.

She finishes with a record 182 dismissals with the gloves in women's ODIs, 46 more than the second woman on the list, Sarah Taylor.

Chetty, 34, last played for South Africa in an ODI against England in July 2022. Having not represented the country in almost eight months, it was also unlikely that Chetty would have received a national contract that is set to be announced later this month.

She made her international debut in 2007 and was among the generation of players who rose as women's cricket transitioned from amateur to professional in South Africa. She finishes with 134 ODI caps, 82 T20I appearances and two Test outings. Chetty and Dane van Niekerk, who also retired recently but only from internationals, join Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee from the first generation of South African professional women's players to retire.

Chetty initially impressed in her early teenage years from 2002 after a stint with Kwa-Zulu Natal Cricket Union and Dolphins. She then broke into the national team as an 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, taking over from Daleen Terblanche. She struck 20 half-centuries in internationals with a high score of 95 against Ireland in an ODI in 2016.

"I can still remember the incredible feeling I had back in 2007 as I walked over the boundary rope, dressed in green and gold for the first time," Chetty said in a CSA statement. "For the past 16 years, it has been a privilege to represent my country and play for the Proteas, and that feeling has never gone away - each time I pulled on my South African kit I felt honoured to be doing so.

"But now, due to a recurring back injury for the past 5 years, the time has come for me to hang up my boots and let the gloves catch dust. I have tried everything to keep playing and have pushed as hard as I can but my body is signalling that it has no more to give and it is time to retire from all forms of cricket.

"This was not an easy decision for me, and even now, I can't quite believe my career is over. However, my cricket career has been a life-changing experience and I look back with no regrets and a full heart.

"I am extremely grateful to my mum and dad, family, and friends for being there for me through all the ups and downs, the successes, and the losses. Without my support system, I would never have been able to take this journey.

"Cricket has taught me about life, being disciplined, what it means to be professional and how to be a team player. For this, I will always be grateful. And I choose to continue to be grateful for cricket as I retire and transition into the next chapter of my life. Lastly, thank you to the fans for all your undying support over the years. I will never forget it."

Chetty represented South Africa in four ODI World Cups (2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022) and all the T20 World Cups from 2009 to 2020, barring the one in 2018. She reached four semi-finals at the World Cup events across the two formats.

She also holds the wicketkeeping records for most dismissals (23) in an ODI series, most catches and stumpings (joint record) in ODIs, a unique record of scoring a half-century and claiming five dismissals in an ODI, and with the second-most catches in T20Is, after Alyssa Healy.

CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe hailed Chetty as "one of the greatest wicketkeepers to ever play the game."

"Chetty's commitment and dedication to the sport and towards the rise of women's cricket throughout the years has been exemplary, and her legacy will be revered for many years to come as the next generation aspire to follow in her footsteps," he said. "I trust Trisha will experience another fruitful voyage in her future endeavours as her impact and presence, on and off the field, will live long amongst the cricket fraternity.

News of Chetty's retirement comes one day after van Niekerk confirmed her own retirement. Unlike van Niekerk, though, Chetty is not expected to continue appearing in franchise competitions.