5 cricketers who retired unexpectedly during an ongoing Test series

One of the toughest decisions every cricketer has to make is about the timing of his retirement. Some cricketers announce their retirement when they are at the peak of their game whereas others are forced to retire from the game due to lack of form, fitness, disciplinary issues and so on.

There have been a few instances when cricketers retired during an ongoing Test series. Here is a look at 5 such cricketers:

#5 Ryan Harris

Ryan Harris was expected to spearhead the Australian pace attack in the 2015 Ashes tournament and was named as a part of the Australian squad. However Harris announced his retirement from international cricket a week before the Ashes was to commence. He could not recover from a persistent knee injury, which led to the end of his international cricket career.

The retirement of Harris was indeed a big blow for the Australian team considering that Harris was their top bowler in the 2013 twin Ashes. The right-handed fast bowler from New South Wales bagged 113 Test wickets in 52 innings at an impressive average of 23.52.

If not for injuries, Harris would have gone down as one of the greatest bowlers to have played the game for Australia.

#4 Shaun Tait

Tait played just three Tests in his career

Tait was one of the fastest bowlers to have played Test cricket. He was expected to run through the Indian batting line up in the Perth Test in the year 2008 when he was named in the Australian squad. India were 2-0 down in the 4 match Test series and the pacy pitch at Perth was expected to assist Tait.

However, the Indian batting lineup managed to unsettle Tait. The fast bowler from Adelaide went wicketless in the Test, conceding 92 runs in 21 overs. India went on the win the Perth Test and Tait was so disturbed with his performance that he announced an indefinite break from Test cricket after the Perth Test.

The Perth Test was the last of the career of Tait and the temporary retirement from Test cricket ended a promising career considering the talent Tait possessed.

#3 Graeme Swann

Swann retired midway through the 2013 Ashes series in Australia

Swann's retirement midway through the 2013 Ashes in Australia took the entire cricket community by surprise. After playing the first three Tests of the Ashes in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, the off-spinner announced his retirement from international cricket just four days prior to the boxing day Test in Melbourne.

An elbow injury and indifferent form led Swann to take this hasty decision. Swann could pick up just 7 wickets in the 3 Tests in the 2013 Ashes.

Swann is regarded as one of the greatest off-spinners to have played Test cricket in recent times. He was a vital member of the English Test team that won the 2009 Ashes in England, 2010 Ashes in Australia and again the 2013 Ashes in England. He was also one of the key bowlers to be a member of the victorious English team to win a Test series in India in 2012.

#2 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble retired after the Delhi Test in 2008

Sourav Ganguly had already announced his retirement from international cricket after the conclusion of the 2008 Border Gavaskar Trophy in India. However apart from Ganguly, the then Indian skipper Anil Kumble abruptly announced retirement from international cricket after the third Test in Delhi and walked away midway through the four-match Test series.

Kumble led India with dignity during his short stint as captaincy at the Test level. Leading India to a Test win in Perth in 2008 and handling the monkey gate issue with maturity were the two main highlights of his career as Indian skipper.

The leg-spinner bagged 619 wickets for India in Tests, which is the highest ever in the history of Test cricket for an Indian and third highest in the world.

#1 MS Dhoni

M.S. Dhoni retired after the boxing day Test in 2014

The retirement of MS Dhoni from Test cricket after the Boxing day Test in 2014 was indeed a shocker for cricket fans around the globe. India were 2-0 down in the three-match Test series and the retirement of Dhoni before the completion of the Test series was questioned by one and all.

Dhoni represented India in 90 Tests and scored 4876 runs with 6 centuries. The gloveman from Ranchi is the most successful wicketkeeper for India in Tests.