Ireland all-rounder Arlene Kelly announces retirement from international cricket

Ireland all-rounder Arlene Kelly has announced her retirement from international cricket, with the news confirmed on September 6, 2026, following Ireland Women’s third ODI against England Women in Worcester.

The 32-year-old all-rounder, born in New Zealand on January 8, 1994, made her Ireland debut against South Africa on June 3, 2022, at Pembroke Cricket Club, and went on to represent the side in 110 international appearances over four and a half years.

Reflecting on her decision, Kelly described representing Ireland as an “absolute privilege” and expressed her gratitude to her teammates, coaches and Cricket Ireland for their unwavering support throughout her career.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to represent Ireland over the past four-and-a-half years, during which I’ve been lucky enough to create so many incredible memories both on and off the field. However, I feel the time is right to hang up the boots and return to New Zealand, where I can spend more time with my family and friends.”

What does Kelly’s record show across her Ireland career?

Kelly finishes her career as one of the most impactful bowlers in Ireland Women’s history. She finished with 135 wickets, placing her third on the country’s all-time wickets list behind Isobel Joyce and Laura Delany.

Her most destructive bowling display came in a T20I fixture in 2023, when she returned figures of 5/12 to dismantle the Netherlands batting lineup. Beyond her bowling, Kelly contributed 601 runs across white-ball cricket, establishing herself as a dependable all-round option throughout her career.

Her individual honours reflect the consistency she brought to the Ireland setup. She was named Cricket Ireland’s Women’s International Player of the Year for 2023 and, in the same calendar year, received the ICC Women’s Player of the Month recognition for her performances during August. When senior leadership was unavailable in 2025, Kelly stepped into the captaincy role, further demonstrating the trust the management placed in her.

How have Ireland’s captain and head coach responded to Kelly’s retirement?

Ireland captain Gaby Lewis offered warm tributes following the announcement, reflecting the esteem in which Kelly was held within the squad.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to represent Ireland over the past four-and-a-half years and I’ve been fortunate enough to make so many amazing memories both on and off the field. However, the time feels right to hang up the boots and head back to New Zealand to be around my family and friends,” Gaby Lewis was quoted as saying by ICC.

“Arlene has become such a special part of our team over the last four years,” Lewis concluded.