Australian All rounder announces Retirement from First-Class Cricket After 17-Year Career

Moises Henriques Retires from First-Class Cricket

Australia’s veteran all-rounder Moises Henriques has officially announced his retirement from first-class cricket. The 38-year-old cricketer, who captained New South Wales (NSW) and played four Test matches for Australia, will continue to participate in white-ball formats, including the Marsh One-Day Cup and the Big Bash League (BBL).

A Stalwart of Australian Domestic Cricket

Henriques has been a key figure in Australian domestic cricket for nearly two decades. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales in 2006 and played a crucial role as an all-rounder, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. Over his Sheffield Shield career, he scored 6,830 runs at an average of 34.84, including 13 centuries, and took 127 wickets at an average of 30.75.

Despite his long career, Henriques hasn’t featured in first-class cricket since November 2024. NSW handed over the one-day captaincy to Jack Edwards at the start of the season, and Edwards also led the team in the Sheffield Shield. Under his leadership, NSW made a push for the Shield final but finished in fourth place.

Henriques’ IPL Journey and 2016 Triumph

Henriques has had a decorated Indian Premier League (IPL) career, playing for five franchises across different seasons. He was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad that won the IPL title in 2016. His IPL career spans 62 matches, in which he scored 1,000 runs and took 42 wickets.

Henriques’ IPL journey included stints with:

He was a vital part of SRH’s title-winning campaign in 2016, where they defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final to lift the trophy.

International Career and Test Debut Against India

Henriques made his Test debut for Australia against India in Chennai in 2013. His maiden Test innings was remarkable, as he scored 68 runs in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 81 in the second innings. However, he struggled to replicate the same form and managed only four Test appearances before being dropped from the squad.

In white-ball cricket, Henriques represented Australia in ODIs and T20Is, playing a total of 25 ODIs and 24 T20Is. His international career statistics include:

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Wickets	Bowling Average
Tests	4	164	23.42	2	77.5
ODIs	25	117	11.7	8	37.62
T20Is	24	335	17.63	7	33.28
List A	150	3,672	32.94	86	30.8
T20s	244	5,396	27.86	119	25.12

Henriques’ Statement on Retirement

Speaking about his decision to retire from first-class cricket, Henriques revealed that he had made up his mind before Christmas in 2024.

“I pretty much made my mind up before Christmas this year that it was time for me to stop playing Sheffield Shield cricket. It was an honour to lead and play for NSW for so long, but playing for NSW means leading not only through words and preparation but also performances.”

He added that while his body could still handle the demands of red-ball cricket, he felt he was no longer leading by delivering match-winning performances.

“My body was still able, even at this ripe old age, but I just wasn’t leading by winning games of cricket for my state in the longer format, which I believe you have to do at this age. We have a terrific group of younger players that will take over and move this great state forward, and I will watch on with keen eyes. I’d love to thank them for providing me an environment to love going to work in.”

Henriques’ Future in Cricket

Although he has retired from first-class cricket, Henriques will continue playing in white-ball formats, where he remains a key figure for NSW in the Marsh One-Day Cup. He also has one more season left on his contract with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.

The veteran all-rounder’s presence in Australian domestic cricket will still be felt in the limited-overs formats, where his experience and leadership will continue to benefit younger players.

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