Colin Munro, known for his electrifying and game-changing batting prowess for New Zealand, has decided to end his international cricket career effective immediately.
Colin Munro has been absent from the National team for more than three years, opting instead to showcase his skills in various franchise leagues worldwide. Despite not securing an IPL contract, he’s been a regular fixture in T20 leagues across the UAE, Pakistan, Australia, and the Caribbean.
Munro’s cricket journey began in New Zealand’s domestic scene with Auckland. He made his first-class debut in 2006, followed closely by his List A debut just weeks later. Back in 2006, he also represented New Zealand in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, though the team didn’t advance past the group stages.
His big break into the national side came six years later in 2012, during a T20I series in South Africa in December 2013. Since then, he’s been a prominent figure in New Zealand cricket, culminating in his last appearance for the Black Caps in the fifth T20I against India at Bay Oval in 2020.
In his international career, spanning 65 T20Is, 57 ODIs, and a solitary Test match, Munro amassed over 3,000 runs and took seven wickets. Now, Munro has decided it’s the right time to hang up his international boots, expressing deep pride in representing the Black Caps.
“Playing for the Black Caps has always been the pinnacle of my career. Wearing that jersey on 123 occasions across all formats is an achievement that fills me with immense pride.” – Munro said via NZC’s official website.
In the world of white-ball cricket, Colin Munro quickly stamped his authority, becoming a key figure for the Black Caps in both T20Is and ODIs from 2016 to 2019. His left-handed batting style and powerful hits earned him recognition, featuring in multiple T20 World Cups and the 2019 ODI World Cup for New Zealand.
While Munro’s prowess made him a sought-after player in the IPL, his time in the league was limited, with only 13 appearances across the 2016, 2018, and 2019 seasons. Despite this, he left his mark within the New Zealand team, setting records along the way. Notably, he holds the record for the fastest century in T20Is for the Blackcaps, achieved with a blistering 47-ball 100 against West Indies at Bay Oval in 2018. Additionally, Munro stands as the sole Kiwi batter with three centuries in T20Is, though players like UAE’s Muhammad Waseem, Czech Republic’s Davizi, India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma, and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell boast more centuries in the format than Munro.
