5 Legends who retired from International Cricket in 2018

The year 2018 was quite an eventful year, both in the longer and shorter formats, both on and off the field. Test cricket saw more teams winning overseas, not just matches, but series. Also, there were more 5 wicket hauls than hundreds this year, which shows the dominance of bowlers in the longest format. The situation was exactly opposite in limited overs, where batsmen made merry in all parts of the globe.

There were a lot of controversies off the field too, including the ball-tampering saga which saw the skipper and vice-captain of the Aussies getting banned for a year. Apart from all these, there were certain stars who bid adieu to international cricket in 2018. Here we look at 5 such giants who will never be seen in international cricket again.

#5 Dwayne Bravo

An all-rounder with plenty of flair and skill, both as a batsman and a seam bowler and an even better fielder, Bravo will go down as someone who was highly underutilized by West Indies cricket. That Bravo was a special talent was imperative from his debut Test series in England as he claimed six wickets in an innings in Manchester and also top-scored for his team in the same test. The ODI series at home in 2006 against India gave his limited overs career a major boost, as he bamboozled batsmen with his slower ones chipped in with match-winning contributions with the bat.

With time, as T20 leagues started blooming around the globe, Bravo's international career took a dip. In 2010, he, along with Pollard, turned down the West Indies cricket board contract so that they can be available for the IPL and other leagues. The following year he chose IPL over a two-match home Test series against Pakistan. He did not play any of the 24 tests that West Indies played between 2011 and 2013 and finally bid adieu to Test cricket in January 2015. He was a key member in the 2012 and 2016 West Indies sides that won the T20 World Cups.

Bravo was handed over the ODI captaincy, taking the mettle from Darren Sammy. However, as the captain of the West Indies side, he played a major role in the team pulling out midway of the India tour due to issues with the board. Two months later he was dropped from the side and Jason Holder replaced him as the skipper.

Bravo has been a key part in the Chennai Super Kings setup since 2011, winning the coveted Purple cap twice. As CSK returned after suspension, they bought back Bravo, who showed his class in the very first match of the season. With a 36 ball 68, Bravo won them the game from an almost unwinnable situation against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in their own backyard. Despite retiring from international cricket, he will remain a key part of the CSK setup.

Dwayne Bravo, in international cricket, will go down as someone who could have done a lot more than he actually did, courtesy controversies with the board and some of his own preferences.