Hayley Jensen Announces Retirement from International Cricket After 11 Years

Hayley Jensen's Retirement Announcement

New Zealand all-rounder Hayley Jensen has officially retired from international cricket, concluding an impressive 11-year journey with the White Ferns. Her career included participation in five ICC tournaments.

At 32 years old, Jensen played a total of 88 matches for New Zealand, comprising 35 One Day Internationals and 53 T20 Internationals, where she claimed 76 wickets across all formats. She was part of the squad during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 held in New Zealand and took part in four ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

One of her most memorable performances occurred during the 2020 T20 World Cup, where she earned the Player of the Match title for her three-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, finishing as New Zealand's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with seven wickets.

Jensen also excelled at the Commonwealth Games, where she was the top wicket-taker for the White Ferns, contributing to their Bronze Medal victory by taking three wickets in the match against England.

Her final match for the national team was in February 2023. In a statement, Jensen expressed that the choice to retire was challenging but felt appropriate at this stage of her life.

Emotional Farewell from Jensen

Reflecting on her retirement, New Zealand women's head coach Ben Sawyer praised Jensen's impact on the team, both as a player and a teammate.

“Hayley has made key contributions to the team with both bat and ball on the field and always brought a genuine passion and love for the game,” Sawyer remarked. “We wish her all the best for whatever the future holds.”

In her official statement, Jensen shared her pride in being part of the team. She recalled her childhood dream of becoming a White Fern, stating, “Ever since I was 10 years old, I came home from my first cricket tournament and knew I wanted to be a White Fern. To have had the chance to live that dream is something I’ll always treasure.”

“It’s been an incredible journey – filled with challenges, growth, unforgettable experiences, and the best group of people I could’ve hoped to share it with. It’s never easy to move on from something that’s meant this much, but I know in my heart it’s time.”

Despite her retirement from international play, Jensen will continue to compete with her domestic team, Otago Sparks, where she has been instrumental in their recent successes in the HBJ Shield and Super Smash.