(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Ed Joyce has announced his retirement from all three formats with immediate effect in order to ‘start a new chapter’ in his career.
The 39-year-old played in Ireland’s inaugural Test against Pakistan in his home city of Dublin earlier in May, but the veteran has taken the decision to move into coaching having been offered a role by Cricket Ireland.
“I feel now is the right time to stop playing and get started on a new chapter. The recent Test match against Pakistan was such an incredible few days and was the perfect game for me to say was my last in professional cricket,” said Joyce, who will become Ireland batting coach and oversee leadership development with the Emerald Isle.
“I am very grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me the opportunity to get involved in the coaching set-up. I know I have a huge amount to learn about the art of coaching, but I know I also have a huge amount of knowledge that I’m determined to pass on to the next generation of Irish talent.”
Like Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin, Joyce is one of a selection of players to have represented both Ireland and England at international level and boasts impressive figures from a first-class career which spanned 19 years.
“County Cricket has been such a huge part of my life for the last 16 years and I firmly believe there was no better place for me to learn about the game,” Joyce said, having established himself in Middlesex’s squad in 2002.
“I was lucky to have played for two of the best in Middlesex and Sussex and I cherish the friendships I made and trophies I won over this period,” he added.
“One of the challenges Irish cricket faces now is that we can no longer use county cricket as a finishing school for our youngsters. We need to produce our own cricketers through our domestic structure and I’m excited to be a part of that journey.”
Joyce finishes his career as one of the pioneers who helped Irish cricket reach ICC Full-Member status last year. His form in 78 ODIs saw him score 2,622 runs at an average of 38.00.
While in first-class cricket, his numbers read: 255 matches, 18,461 runs at an average of 47.95.
