Ireland stalwart Gary Wilson has announced his retirement from professional cricket, bringing to a close a 16-year international career.
He will take up the new full-time role as head coach and pathway manager for North West Warriors.
Holywood-born Wilson, 35, made his international debut for Ireland in June 2005 and appeared 292 times for the senior side. He is the third most capped Irish international in history.
Wilson finishes as Ireland’s second highest wicket-keeper in terms of dismissals behind the stumps with 160 catches and 33 stumpings. In addition, given his career overlapped with Niall O’Brien, Wilson was also an excellent outfielder, taking 60 catches.
A very accomplished middle-order batter, Wilson registered 5,959 runs for Ireland, hitting one century and 30 fifties - his highest score being 113 v Netherlands in 2010.
He featured in the Irish squad at two Cricket World Cup finals [2011, 2015] and five T20 World Cup finals [2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016].
Wilson had a highly successful professional career in England, playing for, and captaining, Surrey County Cricket Club from 2005-2017. He also represented Derbyshire County Cricket Club from 2017-2019.
He then returned to his hometown of Belfast and played two seasons with the Northern Knights, captaining the side to the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy in his first season.
"To step away from international cricket after 16 years is something I will miss dearly," said Wilson.
"I will miss the guys probably more than anything, but pulling on the shirt and playing for Ireland was the only thing I ever dreamed of growing up. To have played for Ireland 292 times is something I am very proud of.
"If I had thought I’d have made it 10 times growing up I would have snapped your hand off, so 292 times is something I’m very proud of."
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie paid tribute to Wilson, saying: "Gary was a brilliant teammate and a great friend to have - a guy who you would never hesitate to chat to about anything on or off the field.
"He was one of those people who - every time he pulled on the jersey - wore his heart on his sleeve, always leading by example in everything we were trying to do as a team. Within the set-up, he was one who would always offer to help develop the next crop of young Irish cricketers.
"I have no doubt he will be a successful coach and I’m looking forward to seeing his progress. We are very fortunate to have someone like Gary still involved in Irish cricket - and long may it continue."
