Will Jefferson Forced Into Retirement By Hip Condition

Will Jefferson Forced Into Retirement By Hip Condition

Will Jefferson (far left) decided to announce his retirement on the anniversary of one of the happiest days of his career.

Leicestershire batsman Will Jefferson has sadly been forced to retire from county cricket on medical advice. Jefferson, a tall and elegant top-order batsman, has struggled with injury since May and has been diagnosed with a rare hip condition.

He is understandably disappointed to have to make this tough call and said, “It is with a heavy heart that I have come to this decision, but with the medical advice I have received, it is the right time to move on. Deciding on this day, exactly one year on from such a happy memory (he was a key member of Leicetsershire victorious Frineds Life t20 team), seemed a fitting way to celebrate my career. 

“I would like to thank the medical team at Leicestershire in particular. Also, everyone involved at the club who has helped make the final leg of my journey such an enjoyable and ultimately fulfilling one. A special mention must go to the PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) for their continued support and the magnificent job they do.

“To my coaches and team-mates at Durham University, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, England A and especially Essex in the early days of my career, a big thank you to each and every one of you for contributing to my career, one that I will look back on with enormous pride. I leave the game with friendships and memories to last a lifetime, and look forward to moving on and starting the next chapter of my life.”

Jefferson, who also represented Essex and Nottinghamshire, will be fondly remembered for his super-over heroics on Friends Life t20 Finals Day last season. He smashed the winning six against Lancashire that clinched the Foxes’ place in the Final as well as securing their position in the Champions League T20.

During his time at Leicetserhsire, Jefferson scored 1,814 first-class runs at an average of 35.57 with a best of 135, which was a brilliant innings against Surrey at the Oval. He made five centuries and also pocketed 39 catches in his 30 appearances. He also scored 592 runs for the club in Twenty20 cricket. Without him this season, Leicestershire struggled in the competition and failed to progress out of the group stages.

In his 12-year playing career, Jefferson amassed 7,096 first-class runs at 35.83, 3144 List A runs at 34.17 and 1,254 t20 runs at an average of 20.96 and a strike rate of 128.48.

Leicestershire CCC chief executive Mike Siddall said, “Everybody at Leicestershire is saddened by the news that Will is retiring from the game. None of us will forget the contribution he made to the club winning last year’s Friends Life t20 Trophy by his incredible performance in the semi-final super-over. 

“The club will do all it can to help Will with his rehabilitation and we wish him well for the future.” 

© Cricket World 2012