Ex-RCB pacer Kane Richardson announces shocking retirement from all forms of cricket

Kane Richardson announces retirement [Source: X]

Australian cricket is set to bid farewell to Kane Richardson, who has announced a shock retirement following the Sydney Sixers clash in Challenger round in the Big Bash League. Kane Richardson will retire from all forms of the game at the end of the ongoing BBL season.

The fast bowler, currently representing the Sydney Sixers, is set to play his final professional match on January 25, when the Sixers face the Perth Scorchers with the BBL title on the line. Notably, Richardson announced his retirement after the Sixers dominated the Hobart Hurricanes by 57 runs in the BBL 2025–26 Challenger at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

Kane Richardson steps away from cricket

After the match, Richardson shared that he has given everything he could to the game and felt this was the right time to step away, with no plans to move forward as a professional cricketer.

As quoted by Code Sports, Richardson delivered an emotional message while announcing his decision. For those unaware, Kane Richardson enjoyed a professional career spanning more than a decade. 

“I feel like I have squeezed every drop out of myself, and it is the right time to finish such an enjoyable part of my life,” Richardson said.

Who is Kane Richardson?

However, he did not break into the national setup until his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2013. Kane Richardson last represented Australia in November 2023 against India. Over his international career, he featured in 61 matches, including 25 ODIs and 36 T20Is. He never earned a cap in red-ball cricket for Australia, but he was part of the squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021.

Despite limited opportunities in Tests, Kane Richardson became a prominent figure in the Big Bash League. He played 118 BBL matches and picked up 142 wickets at an economy rate of 7.87 and an average of 23.21. His standout season came in BBL 2018–19, when he claimed 24 wickets from 14 matches at an impressive average of 17.70.

Richardson's post-retirement plans

Kane Richardson had earlier hinted at retirement plans in October 2025, stating that his body could no longer cope with the physical demands of professional cricket. 

“I dare say this will be my last year. It’s just getting really hard with the training loads the game requires. I think the last two years I’ve definitely battled with my body to play every game. I am not in that position anymore, so if I can play a small role, that’s what I’m after,” Richardson said.

However, he has expressed interest in remaining connected to the game in some capacity, possibly through coaching or mentoring roles in the future.

“I’ve moved rural into NSW, so probably a lot of mowing and maybe some cricket coaching or something up there. I’ll still be involved in the game in some way and keep an eye on things, but at this stage I’ll be pretty free. I’ve got 10 acres, a little hobby farm, and I’ve got two young boys, so I’ll be keeping them out of trouble,” Richardson said.

Beyond the BBL, Kane Richardson featured in several T20 leagues around the world. In the Indian Premier League, he represented Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore, although he appeared in only 15 matches across his IPL career. He also played in England’s The Hundred and the UAE’s ILT20.