George Worker Retires from Cricket to Join Investment Firm After 17-Year Career

Former New Zealand cricketer George Worker has officially announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 34. Citing a “fantastic opportunity” with an investment services firm, Worker will transition from the cricket pitch to the corporate world, concluding a 17-year career that saw him shine in New Zealand’s domestic circuit and briefly represent his country on the international stage.

Worker began his professional cricket journey with Central Districts and later played for Auckland, where he recently made significant contributions. Reflecting on his career and his decision to retire, Worker expressed deep gratitude for the experiences and relationships he built over nearly two decades in the sport.

“After a fulfilling 17-year journey in professional cricket, I am announcing my retirement from the sport. This decision marks the end of an incredible chapter of my life and the beginning of a new adventure,” Worker said in his retirement announcement. “Throughout the course of my career, I’ve forged some great friendships that will last a lifetime and memories I will cherish forever.”

A Domestic Cricket Star

While Worker may not have had an extensive international career, his impact on New Zealand’s domestic cricket scene was undeniable. He debuted for Central Districts during the 2007-08 season and quickly became a key player in the domestic arena. Over his career, he amassed impressive statistics, particularly in List A cricket, where he scored 6721 runs at an average of 43.64 and a strike rate of 79.85, including 18 centuries and 37 half-centuries.

Worker’s first-class cricket record includes 6400 runs at an average of 29.49, while in T20 cricket, he scored 3480 runs at a strike rate of 123.57. In addition to his batting prowess, Worker was also a part-time left-arm spinner, taking 58 first-class wickets, 60 in List A matches, and 42 in T20s.

His most notable recent achievement came during the 2021-22 Ford Trophy, where he played a crucial role in Auckland Aces’ title win. Worker topped the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 672 runs in ten innings, averaging 84.00, and recorded four centuries.

Brief International Career

Worker’s international career was short but had its moments of success. He played ten One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for New Zealand between 2015 and 2018. His international debut came on a 2015 tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, where he impressed with a Player-of-the-Match performance on his T20I debut, scoring 62 off 38 balls in Harare.

Despite this strong start, Worker found limited opportunities to cement his place in the national team. His ODI debut came on the same tour of Africa, and he earned a more extended run in 2017, playing in Ireland and at home against the West Indies, where he scored all three of his ODI half-centuries.

In March 2022, Worker was called up to New Zealand’s ODI squad for a home series against the Netherlands after Mark Chapman was ruled out due to Covid-19. However, Worker did not add to his international caps during that series.

A New Chapter Begins

As Worker steps away from cricket, he is looking forward to applying the same dedication and passion that fueled his cricket career to his new role in the financial sector.

“Whilst his immense leadership and experience will be sorely missed in the Aces environment, we’re hugely excited for him as he embarks on this next chapter in his career,” said Evan Jones, Auckland Cricket’s head of performance and talent. “George will, of course, remain an important part of the Auckland Cricket family, and we look forward to seeing what that may look like in the future.”

The former cricketer is set to join Forsyth Barr, a leading New Zealand investment firm, where he sees a promising future. “As I close this chapter, I am excited to embark on the next phase of my life with Forsyth Barr, who have offered me a fantastic opportunity,” Worker said. “I look forward to bringing the same passion and dedication to my new role with them.”

With this move, George Worker brings down the curtain on an illustrious domestic cricket career, as he prepares to take on new challenges in the world of finance.

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