Scotland’s former captain, Kyle Coetzer, has announced his retirement from cricket. The 38-year-old bid adieu to his career as he has accepted the role of Assistant Coach at the Northern Diamonds, one of the eight women’s regional ECB hubs, which he will begin this week.
Coetzer leaves the game after a successful career, setting numerous records. The right-handed batter is the highest run-scorer in ODI cricket for Scotland, having scored 3192 runs in 89 matches.
Coetzer captained Scotland in 110 games in all formats of the game and stepped down as skipper last year. He is retiring at the height of his career, having recently been part of the squad that won the ICC CWCL2 Trophy in Nepal last month. He not only captained the national team but also led at the under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels.
Coetzer scored a World Cup ton in 2015, led his side to T20 World Cup 2021 and has the most win by any Scottish captain. He was crowned the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade in 2020 and awarded an MBE for Services to Cricket in the same year.
As he begins a new chapter in his career, Coetzer expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his team, coaches, and fans. He also conveyed his excitement at the prospect of contributing to the development of women’s cricket as an Assistant Coach with the Northern Diamonds.
Coetzer is one of the most loved associate cricketers among Nepalese fans, having played in a domestic franchise league in Nepal. The Scottish player also quoted Nepal fans as one of the most amazing in the world and appreciated their passion and brilliant support during the recently concluded CWC League 2 via Twitter.
“I’ve been playing for Scotland since I was 11 or 12 years old, so it’s been the best part of 26 years playing for my country. Creating memories, being around friends, and always finding a way to punch above our weight was just terrific. I’ve always loved the battle of trying to improve against all odds”, Kyle said.
Photo – Cricket Scotland