Tim Bresnan announces retirement after 20-year career

Tim Bresnan, the former England allrounder who played a pivotal role in the Ashes triumph in Australia in 2010-11, has retired from professional cricket.

Bresnan, 36, announced the decision through his club, Warwickshire, on Monday, ending a 20-year playing career after he helped them secure an eighth County Championship title in 2021.

"This has been an incredibly tough decision, but after returning to winter training I feel that this is the right time," Bresnan said. "I have continued to work hard throughout the off-season to prepare for my 21st professional year, but deep down I feel I can't reach the high standards that I set myself and my teammates.

"The hunger and enthusiasm that I have for the game I love will never leave me, but whilst my head is willing to tackle the 2022 season, my body is not."

Bresnan, part of the England side that won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11 and on home soil in 2013, represented his country on 142 occasions, including 23 Tests. Having made his Test debut against West Indies at Lord's in 2009, Bresnan was called into England's Ashes side for the Boxing Day Test in 2010 as a replacement for Steven Finn and ended up playing a crucial role, helping to bowl Australia out for 98 in the first innings and taking 4 for 50 in the second as England sealed their defence of the Urn.

With his broad-shouldered bowling style, allied to a composed batting technique that grew in stature particularly on the county circuit in his later years, Bresnan was an under-rated but crucial component of the England team that rose, in the summer of 2011, to become the No.1 Test side in the world. From making his debut against West Indies at Lord's in 2009, through to the opening match against the same opponents, at Trent Bridge in 2012, he featured in 13 consecutive England wins, and was also in the England team which won the World Twenty20 in 2010.

During his first-class career, Bresnan amassed 7,138 runs and 575 wickets with seven centuries and nine five-wicket hauls.

"I will always look back at my career with immense pride and it's been an absolute honour to represent Warwickshire, my home county and country," Bresnan said. "Growing up I never would have believed how lucky I was to play with and against some of the finest cricketers to grace the game... the opportunity to wear the Three Lions is something that should never be taken for granted and I'm proud to have played a very small part in our country's storied history.

"I'm excited for my next chapter and am determined to throw everything into it, like I did on the cricket field for so many years."

Bresnan joined Warwickshire from Yorkshire in June 2020, initially on loan before signing a two-year deal intended to take him through to the end of the 2022 season. He had played for Yorkshire from 2001 to 2019, helping them to County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.

Bresnan was implicated in the investigation into institutional racism at Yorkshire when Azeem Rafiq named him in testimony to November's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing into his accusations of racism and bullying at the club. Bresnan denied making racist comments but apologised "for any part I played in contributing to Azeem Rafiq's experience of feeling bullied at Yorkshire". Warwickshire subsequently said that Bresnan would join its players, coaches and management in cultural awareness and appreciation training.

Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire's director of cricket, praised Bresnan for making the difficult decision to retire well before the start of the new season.

"Tim has had an astounding career," Farbrace said. "I've been incredibly fortunate to work with him throughout his cricketing journey and he has been a marvellous servant to the game. When Tim joined Warwickshire, I believed he could make a huge impact to our side with his experience, knowledge and attitude, and as a County Champion he has certainly achieved that.

"His performances for the club have been exemplary... during his international career, Tim rose to the occasion when his country needed him and his achievements on the biggest stage show how talented and driven, he is."