Shannon Gabriel, the fast bowler for West Indies, announced his retirement from international cricket, capping a 12-year career that saw him play 86 international matches.
“During the past 12 years, I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies,” the 36-year-old wrote on his Instagram page. “Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.”
Gabriel played his greatest cricket in the Test format, appearing in fifty-nine of his 86 appearances for the West Indies. After making his Test debut in the 2012 Lord’s Test, he went on to take 166 wickets at an average of 32.21 and establish himself as a key component of the team’s pace attack for most of the following ten years. In June 2018, he took 13 for 121 against Sri Lanka, which is the fourth-best match figure for a West Indian. He has had six five-wicket hauls. He participated in his final Test match last year in Port of Spain against India.
“I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies,” Gabriel wrote. “Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special.
“Moving forward, my plan is to continue representing my country [Trinidad and Tobago], club, and franchise teams around the world with the same love and passion I have shown throughout my career.”
As a tall, muscular, quintessential West Indian fast, Gabriel experienced both highs and lows. In an attempt to save the 2017 Dominica Test against Pakistan with seven balls remaining, his stumps were rattled by Yasir Shah when he tried to slog one out of nowhere. In 2019, Gabriel was also suspended from four ODIs for calling Joe Root a homophobe in a verbal argument in St. Lucia.
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