Michael Lumb forced to retire due to ankle injury

Photo: AFP New Delhi: England’s flamboyant left handed batsman, Michael Lumb has been forced to retire midway through the English county season, due to an ankle injury. Lumb is one of England’s only 11 players to have won a global ICC trophy, winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2010 defeating Australia in the final. "I'm extremely disappointed I've had to retire from cricket, particularly in the middle of the season, but I have to respect medical opinion.” said the 37 year old who was forced to retire in midst of a great season where he helped Nottinghamshire to win the domestic One Day Cup. Born in South Africa, Lumb began his career at Yorkshire, the county club of his father, Richard, and moved to Hampshire before relocating to Trent Bridge in 2012 where he played for the Notts. His prowess as a hard-hitting opening batsman also earned him stints in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, and in Australia's Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers. Lumb was Sixers' Player of the Tournament in BBL season 5 and had scored 721 runs over 42 innings, including five half centuries, at an average of 17.59. Sixers’ general manager Dom Remond on Thursday tweeted, “Gutted to hear Lumby forced to retire due to injury. Massive contributor to Sixers, huge thanks mate”.

Gutted to hear Lumby forced to retire due to injury. Massive contributor to @SixersBBL huge thanks mate @TrentBridge @BBL @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/9OYvUdVDjP

— Dom Remond (@dremond) July 19, 2017

In first-class cricket, Lumb amassed more than 11,000 runs in 210 matches, with his career-best 221 not out coming for Nottinghamshire against Derbyshire at Trent Bridge in 2013. "I have had the best time at Trent Bridge, in my view the most productive years of my career, and Nottinghamshire is the club I have most enjoyed playing for," he said. "I would like to thank all my team-mates, the coaching staff and everyone else at the club for making my stay such a memorable one. Those sentiments also go to everybody at both Yorkshire and Hampshire, who have made my career so enjoyable. Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell, said: "It's very sad news for Michael. He's a hugely talented batsman that has entertained cricket followers all over the world.” Mick further added, “He is an immensely popular senior player in the dressing room and highly respected for what he has achieved during his career. We wish him every success and thank him for all he has contributed to the club."