Scotland fast bowler Brad Wheal on Friday announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 30, saying recurring injuries had left his body unable to cope with the demands of fast bowling. But announcing his retirement from the game brings down the curtain on a decade-long international career in which he played 44 matches across ODIs and T20Is and took 51 wickets for Scotland. Right-arm pacer Wheal has had four stress fractures in his back and recently underwent knee surgery. “I’ve loved my time at Hampshire and representing Scotland as a professional cricketer, but unfortunately, recurring injuries have forced my hand, and I’ve made the decision to retire from playing cricket.
Wheal also had a long association with English county side Hampshire, whom he joined in 2015. He played 131 matches for the club across formats and won two trophies – the One-Day Cup in 2018 and the T20 Blast in 2022. His performances during the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, alongside his contributions to memorable victories over Bangladesh and the West Indies, are a few of the many examples of his impact in a Scotland shirt.
I’ve made some lifelong friends and shared a dressing room with some great people, and those are the things I’ll probably miss the most,” he said. “It’s not been an easy decision, nut one I am at peace with. “It has always meant a lot to me and my family to have had the opportunity to play for Scotland, and it’s something I’ll always be incredibly proud of. I’ve been fortunate enough to represent Scotland at four World Cups and have had some incredible experiences along the way. “I’m incredibly thankful to all my teammates, coaches and support staff who I’ve worked with over the years. “To represent Scotland at four T20 World Cups is a superb achievement, and Brad has consistently demonstrated his quality against some of the best players in the world.
I’ve had four stress fractures in my back and recently had surgery on my knee, and ultimately my body can’t cope with the demands of fast bowling anymore,” Wheal said in a statement by Cricket Scotland on Friday.
“Beyond those performances, Brad has brought a great deal of experience and professionalism to the Scotland squad. His regular exposure to high-level professional cricket, his exciting skills as a fast bowler and the high standards he has demonstrated have all been extremely valuable to the national team and his teammates.
