Ireland’s most capped female cricketer Mary Waldron announced her retirement from International Cricket after a 13-year-long career.
Ireland’s seasoned cricketer, Mary Waldron, has officially said goodbye to her international cricket career after an amazing 13-year journey at the highest level of the sport. She started her One Day International (ODI) career on July 4, 2010, at the age of 39, in a match against New Zealand at Kibworth.
Her journey continued with her debut in Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is) on October 14, 2010, when Ireland took on Sri Lanka at Potchefstroom. Originally, Waldron planned to retire after the third and final ODI against Australia in Dublin on Friday, July 28. However, an injury prompted her to make some adjustments to her retirement plans.
Throughout her illustrious career, Mary Waldron made a significant impact as a wicketkeeper. She participated in a total of 56 Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs) and 88 Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is). In the 50-overs format, her exceptional wicket-keeping skills led to 33 catches and 16 stumpings. Similarly, in the WT20Is, she was equally adept, achieving 34 catches and 28 stumpings.
While reflecting on her retirement, Waldron extended her gratitude to the coaches and other members of the team management at Cricket Ireland. She also credited her parents for her success and thanked them too for their unwavering support.
“It’s obviously a very emotional time but I’m very proud of what I have achieved. I want to say a huge thank you to the staff and coaches at Cricket Ireland for the opportunity to represent my country, and to Pembroke and Malahide for shaping my journey and supporting me all the way.
“To my family and Roxane, thank you for your support – and for giving me a roof over my head whenever I needed it. More specifically, to Mum and Dad the best supporters in the world – thank you for everything.
“Finally, to my teammates, I will miss you so much, but can’t wait to follow your journey over the years ahead,” told Waldron as reported by Cricket Ireland.
Ireland skipper Laura Delany praised Waldron on her illustrious career and head coach Ed Joyce too joined her in paying tribute for her contributions to the Ireland Women team.
“Mary was one of those players you always wanted in your squad – a born leader both on and off the field,” Ed Joyce, Ireland’s head coach, said. “No matter the situation she could always be relied upon to rally her teammates or be a support during challenging times.
“It’s a sad day when a teammate retires – but even more so when that teammate is Mary Waldron,” Laura Delany, Ireland captain, said. “We made our international debuts on the same day and I have loved every minute of playing alongside her.
“To have a great wicketkeeper in your side is an asset – but to also have a great analytical brain being able to assess circumstances of the game from behind the stumps is a godsend, and I know she has helped me to become a better leader through our many on-field and off-field conversations,” she further added.
