In cricket, being named Player of the Match is a significant achievement for any player. The organizers present the trophy to the top performer in the game, a player who helped his team win the game.
However, it is uncommon for a player to complete his career as Player of the Match. If a player decides to retire or if the team decides to release him, it signifies that his playing days are numbered. But some of the players have signed off in great style by giving performances that earned them the Player of the Match award.
This kept the fans wondering whether the player bid goodbye at the right time, or whether the decision to drop them for good was the right one. Today, we take a look at some players who finished their career on high with a Player of the Match trophy.
Here are the Top 3 Players who won the Player of the Match in their final ODI:
3. Desmond Haynes
Desmond Haynes (Photo Source: DAVID CALLOW/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the best openers West Indies produced in their prime during the 1980s, Desmond Haynes had a fulfilling career that began in 1978 and ended in 1994. He played 116 Tests, scoring 7487 runs with 18 centuries and in 238 ODIs, made 8648 runs with a the-then record 17 centuries.
Haynes was a prolific century-maker in the initial years of ODI cricket and was the first to 8,000 runs in the format. He scored a century on his ODI debut in 1978, making 148 against Australia with 16 fours and 2 sixes. He continued this form throughout his career and was part of West Indies’ 1979 World Cup winning squad.
Haynes played his final ODI game in 1994 against England in Trinidad and signed off with 115 runs with 14 fours to his name, becoming the first batter to score hundreds in both his debut and final ODI matches. He also won the Player of the Match in both instances.
2. David Willey
David-Willey. (Photo Source: Twitter)
David Willey called time on his England international career in the midst of the ICC World Cup 2023. David Willey is, at the age of 33, at the peak of his ability. However, the reason behind his retirement from international cricket was ECB did not offer him a central contract which was announced recently.
Willey didn’t get treated by the England board and selectors properly as first he was heartlessly dropped from the England squad which won the 2019 World Cup, to make way for Jofra Archer. And now, by snubbing him from central contracts, it was clear that the ECB didn’t have Willey in their plans.
Therefore, the all-rounder decided to retire from international cricket and he did it in style. England defeated Pakistan in their final ODI World Cup 2023 league match and Willey starred with 15 runs in 5 balls and 3/56. He was named the Player of the Match and completed 100 ODI wickets as well.
1. Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan U-19. (Photo Source: X(Twitter).
Irfan Pathan burst onto the international scene for India in style in 2003 and showcased the brilliant ability to swing the ball at a good pace and aptitude to score runs with the bat. People compared him with Kapil Dev and Irfan did well to justify the comparison. He was the second Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick.
He was the Player of the Final when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup and had a leading role in India’s only tri-series ODI win in Australia in 2008. He played 29 Tests, taking 100 wickets and scoring 1105 runs with 1 century. In 120 ODIs, Pathan took 173 wickets and scored 1544 runs. And in 24 T20Is, Pathan took 28 wickets.
However, by 2011-12, Pathan suffered from fluctuation in form and a knee injury which proved to be the doom of his international career. His last ODI was against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2012. He made 29* and picked 5/61 to help India win the series 4-1. But this was his final match for India and Pathan later retired from all cricket formats in 2020.