When Goodbye Isn't Final – 5 International Cricketers Who Retired & Then Returned

Retirement in sport can feel like closing a door but for many cricketers, it has proved to be a temporary one. Some players have stepped away from international duty because of injury, workload, disagreement with management or to prolong their careers, only to reverse that decision when motivation, opportunity or a national call-up arrived.

Here are a few notable comebacks and the facts behind them:

1. Ben Stokes (England):

Ben Stokes stunned fans when he announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals in July 2022, saying the grind of all three formats had become “unsustainable”. That decision was short-lived, an England recall saw him withdraw the retirement and rejoin the ODI squad in August 2023 ahead of the World Cup, a move that underlined both his value in white-ball cricket and how retirement choices can shift with team needs.

Ben Stokes’ ODI record before his brief retirement included more than 100 appearances, nearly 3,000 runs and about 70-plus wickets, numbers that made his return a big boost for England.

2. Moeen Ali (England):

Moeen Ali’s case was different; he stepped away from Test cricket at the end of the 2021 summer to focus on shorter formats and family but when England needed an experienced off-spinner for the 2023 Ashes after an injury to the first-choice spinner, Moeen Ali answered the call and came out of Test retirement in June 2023.

His recall was dramatic, he not only returned to the side but passed major career milestones during that Ashes, joining a small group of all-rounders with over 3,000 Test runs and 200 wickets. Moeen Ali’s career across formats has been substantial, with several hundred international appearances and crucial contributions in England’s trophy wins.

3. Quinton de Kock (South Africa):

Quinton de Kock is another recent example of a white-ball U-turn. The South African wicketkeeper-batter had stepped back from the 50-over game after the 2023 World Cup and his Test career had already ended earlier. Yet in 2025, he reversed his ODI retirement and returned to the Proteas’ limited-overs squads, reuniting with the national setup after a period focused on franchise cricket.

Quinton de Kock’s international record before his return included more than 6,000 ODI runs, 21 centuries and an eye-catching strike as a top-order keeper-batsman. His comeback underlined how elite form and national need can draw players back.

4. Mohammad Amir (Pakistan):

Mohammad Amir’s journey has been especially turbulent. After early career highs, a ban and a prison term, he returned to international cricket in 2016 and later retired from international duty in December 2020 citing disputes with management.

In March 2024, Amir announced he was available again for selection for the T20 World Cup, reversing his retirement following talks with the Pakistan board. His comeback was welcomed by selectors and fans alike; before his 2020 retirement, Amir had 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is under his belt and was remembered for match-turning spells across formats.

5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan):

Shahid Afridi’s career was marked by several retirements and returns over more than a decade. The explosive all-rounder declared retirements various times but kept reappearing when Pakistan needed experience or when farewell plans changed.

His pattern of stepping away and returning across the 2000s and 2010s made him one of the most talked about examples of a stop-start international career and his legacy includes thousands of limited-overs runs and a hefty wicket tally.

These stories show that retirement in modern cricket is not always final. Players leave for many reasons but sometimes they make a comeback as well.

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