Colin Munro bids farewell to international cricket after T20 WC snub

10 May, 2024

Despite the 37-year-old lefty's last international appearance dating back to a T20I clash against India in 2020, Munro nursed hopes of staging a comeback, fueled by his stellar performances in franchise T20 cricket, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

"In spite of the hiatus, I clung to the possibility of a return based on my T20 exploits on the franchise circuit," Munro stated in a release on Friday. "Now, with the unveiling of the Black Caps' squad for the T20 World Cup, it's the opportune moment to formally draw the curtain on that chapter."

Having debuted in T20Is against South Africa in 2012, the Durban-born Munro amassed 122 white-ball appearances for New Zealand, coupled with a lone Test outing against the Proteas in 2013.

His blistering 47-ball century versus the West Indies at Mount Maunganui in 2018 etched a new benchmark for New Zealand's fastest T20 century while securing the distinction of being the inaugural player to notch up three T20I hundreds.

Furthermore, his lightning-paced 14-ball half-century against Sri Lanka at Auckland's Eden Park in 2016 stands as New Zealand's swiftest in T20Is and ranks as the fourth fastest globally.

Although his quest for T20 World Cup glory remains unfulfilled, Munro featured in New Zealand's lineup during the gut-wrenching 2019 World Cup final loss against hosts England.

While Munro sets sights on continued franchise cricket endeavours, his legacy endures in the realm of abbreviated formats, lauded as a trailblazer of aggressive, "360-degree style" batting, as praised by New Zealand Cricket head honcho Scott Weenink.

Weenink hailed Munro's pioneering spirit, asserting, "He elevated calculated risk-taking to unprecedented heights, spearheading a paradigm shift in the dynamics of short-form cricket. We express heartfelt gratitude for his remarkable contributions spanning over a century of international appearances."