Lancashire Legend Steven Croft Retires from Professional Cricket

Steven Croft, the legendary all-rounder who played a pivotal role in Lancashire's 2011 County Championship triumph, has bid farewell to professional cricket at the age of 39. Croft, who retired from first-class and List A cricket last year, had been playing T20 cricket for Lancashire this season. However, he has now decided to hang up his boots and transition into a full-time coaching role with the club.

Croft's final appearance came in Lancashire's Vitality Blast quarter-final defeat to Sussex earlier this month. It was his 600th match for the club across all formats. He made his Lancashire debut in 2005 and went on to amass 19,183 runs and claim 199 wickets with his offspin.

The highlight of Croft's career came in 2011 when he scored the winning runs against Somerset at Taunton, securing Lancashire's first County Championship title in 77 years. Four years later, he captained the T20 team to their maiden T20 Blast title, defeating Northamptonshire in the final at Edgbaston.

Between June 2006 and July 2018, Croft played 148 consecutive T20 matches for Lancashire, an English record. He finishes his career as Lancashire's leading T20 run-scorer with 5,486 runs.

"My dream as a boy was to play one game for Lancashire, in the end it became 600," Croft said. "So, after just over two decades of playing for the club, I have taken the decision to retire as a player."

"I can confidently say I have realised my dream and more, and what a ride it has been. To go with the games, runs, wickets and catches, I have played alongside some of my heroes and many greats of the game."

Mark Chilton, Lancashire's Director of Cricket, praised Croft's contributions to the club. "Steven epitomises everything good about this club. He is an outstanding individual who always puts the team first and anyone who has watched him knows that Steven puts his heart and soul into every game and his record speaks for itself."

"To be such an influential member of our side - as well as contributing to so many match-winning performances - over such a long period of time is something he should be very proud of."

"Players like Steven don't come around too often and whilst we will miss his skill and experience on the field, we're thrilled that he will continue to play a vital role in continuing to develop the exciting young players we have at Emirates Old Trafford, working across the Men's First Team, Second XI and Academy."

Tags: #StevenCroft, #LancashireCricket, #CountyChampionship, #T20Blast, #Retirement