Good Cricketers that ended their career early?

Question

Good Cricketers that ended their career early?

Answer 1

Good Cricketers that ended their career early and show me a place with high infant mortality-- all potentailly best cricketers were from there.

Answer 2

Obvious answers: Neil Johnson and Henry Olonga of Zimbabwe.

Neil Johnson was, alongside Jacques Kallis, one of the few true all-rounders of the present cricket world, batting in the top order and opening the bowling. His aggresive yet consistent batting would have gotten him into any World XI at the peak of his powers (from 1998-2000).

Johnson was influential in Zimbabwe's qualification to the Super 6 stage of the 1999 World Cup. He won three Man-of-the-Match awards in the tournament. One of those awards came in his side's surprise victory over eventual Semi Finalists South Africa. Opening the batting, he top scored with 76 before dismissing Gary Kirsten with the first ball of the South African chase. He then got rid of Jacques Kallis for a duck and finished with 3 for 27. In the same tournament, he made an unbeaten 132 and took 2/43 against the eventual champions Australia at Lord's. Johnson is notable for having opened both the batting and bowling for his country in this World Cup.

At the age of just thirty, after the 2000 tour of England, Johnson retired from international cricket as a result of disputes over his payment from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, and his disenchantment with the political situation in Zimbabwe as well. He returned to see out his first-class career in South Africa, where he had grown up.

Another Zimbabwean worth noting is Henry Olonga. Having made his debut as a 18 year old, Olonga went on to spearhead Zimbabwe's fast bowling attack with Heath Streak for the next seven years. He retired after the 2003 World Cup, during which he and Andy Flower famously wore black armbands to "mourn the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe and self-exiled to England, where after pursuing a club cricket career for a while, he quit cricket and turned to commentary and singing. At the time of his international retirement in March 2003, he was still 26 (not yet 27 as he was born in July 1976), and gave up cricket altogether before turning 30.

Sean Ervine, also of Zimbabwe, deserves special mention, as he too left Zimbabwe and ended a promising career after the dispute between the ZCU and white cricketers in 2004. He has since represented Hampshire and Western Australia, and has announced that he will seek to qualify for either English or Australian international representation in the near future, so technically his career isn't over yet, although it is unlikely he will be selected for the Australian national team due to the competition for places with Shane Watson, James Hopes, Cameron White and the like.

Answer 3

Craig Mcmillan retired from international cricket at the age of 31 because he was snubbed from the test team and because he suffers from diabetes which has made playing cricket very tough on him

Answer 4

More recently probably Brad Hogg.  If only the media had left him alone.

Adam Gilchrist would have to be up there as well.

Answer 5

Basit Ali (Pakistan)

Answer 6

To the guy above- Tait hasn't ended his career infact he will be returning to FC cricket later on this year !!!

Alex Loudon- Right arm offspinner and talented batsmen, he played for Warwickshire. He ended his career at the age of 30 last year, so that he could concentrate on his studies to become a lawyer. Loudon played a few ODI's for England and many games for the England A side.

Jason Gillespie- Retiring from international cricket at the age of 32, he is still a talented bowler, and he is good enough to force himself back in the Australian side.

Vinoj Kambli- Maybe his FC career did not end early, BUT his test career did, he was as talented as Tendulkar BUT after just a handul of tests and at the age of 26 he was dropped !!.

Answer 7

Shaun Tait of Australia.