Craig Miles, Gloucestershire seamer, retires aged 32 to prioritise mental health

Live Update: Gloucestershire fashion designer Craig Miles is retiring at the age of 32 to prioritize mental health. Took over 500 wickets across all formats in his 16-year career, including winning the county championship. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India. vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball game, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup Final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retain the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18 2023 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Chandigarh, Chandigarh pears to be the first planned city in India and it shows, published on November 27, 2001.

A general view of the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings vs Delhi Citals, IPL 2024, Mullanpur, March 23, 2024. The great Punjab fast bowler is part of the Indian quicks who are preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa. In the first two games of the series, they took just four wickets and conceded 706 runs. his fifty in 32 deliveries, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026 Washington Sundar has since been dropped from the T20I series against WI, with Naman Dhir named as his replacement. Prasidh Krishna chats with Shubman Gill, India vs West Indies, 1st ODI, Thiruvananthuram, September 27, 2026 Nasir Lone near the outfield during Irani Trophy, Jammu & Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Trophy, Srinagar, October 1, 2026 Two overlooked seamers from J&K seized an unexpected opportunity to fill Auqib Nabi’s void and delivered crucial performances in the Irani Cup. Sunil Kumar struggles for a wicket, Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Trophy, Srinagar, October 1, 2026 After spending the last seven months in rehabilitation, the fast bowler is ready to play in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir. Akash Deep struck twice on the final day, England v India, 2nd Test, 5th Day, Birmingham, July 6, 2025. The 41-year-old will begin his 25th first-class season by leading Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup against the rest of India in Srinagar. Paras Dogra discusses his hundred, Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir, Day 2, Delhi, Ranji Trophy, November 9, 2025 Liam Scott picked five wickets to leave India A nine wickets away, but India A managed in the final overs to win the series 1-0. Yash Rathod scored an impressive 194, South Zone vs Central Zone, Duleep Trophy Final, Day 2, CEG Ground, September 13, 2025 Sam Harper has had a breakthrough season with the bat in all formats and could be in the running for higher honors for Australia. Sam Harper scored his sixth first-class hundred, India A v Australia A, 2nd Unofficial Test, Puducherry, Day 1, September 29, 2026 Australia A ctain has accepted his call but believes his County and Shield experience has shown he can thrive in any conditions. Peter Handscomb won the Prime Minister’s XI, the Prime Minister’s XI against England They played out India’s dramatic win against Pakistan in the 2007 World T20 final, which gave the format a huge boost in popularity. India’s spectacular win against Pakistan in the 2007 World T20 final gave the format a huge boost in popularity. hit the wrist and didn’t come back Cameron Green reacts after taking a hit while batting, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Lungi Ngidi explains he felt unsupported as a bowler before Shukri Conrad took over, as South Africa all-format coach Lungi Ngidi celebrates, South Africa v West Indies, T20 Super World Cup Eight, Ahmedabad, February 26 2026 SA v Aus, 3rd ODI – Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh and Adam Zampa star as Australia win rain-affected final. Alex Carey takes evasive action, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Newlands in Ce Town will host the opening match of the main round on October 7 and the tournament will continue until November 21. An Australian team celebrates their prize, India vs Australia, Men’s ODI World Cup Final, Ahmedabad, November 19, 2023 Lorcan Tucker watches as Shai Hope, who made 75, hits a shot, Ireland vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, Dublin, May 25, 2025 Shreyas Iyer enjoys the surroundings, Afghanistan vs India, Men’s Quarterfinal at the Asian Games, Nisshin, September 28, 2026 Craig Miles took 512 wickets in his professional career, which included a County Championship winner’s medal Craig Miles keeps the ball in the air for his five for, Warwickshire vs Lancashire, Bob Willis Trophy Final, Lord’s, Day 1, September 28, 2021 Gloucestershire and former Warwickshire seamer Craig Miles has retired from professional cricket at the age of 32 years ago to prioritize his mental health. Miles made his debut for Gloucestershire at the age of 16 in May 2011, making him the fourth youngest player in the club’s history.

During his 16-year career, he took 512 wickets across all formats, including 368 at 28.58 in first-class cricket. In 2015, he was named the club’s Young Player of the Year after contributing 12 wickets, including a best of 4 for 29 against Yorkshire, en route to Gloucestershire’s victory in the Royal London One-Day Cup final. He returned to Gloucestershire last summer after spending seven successful seasons in Warwickshire from 2018 to 2024.

That spell included 37 wickets at 21.81 in their 2021 County Championship-winning campaign, and then he played in the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s in the summer, taking 5 for 28 in the first innings as Warwickshire beat Lancashire by an innings and 199 runs. In an open letter to Gloucestershire fans, Miles explained his reasons for retiring from football while admitting that professional sport is taking a toll on his mental wellbeing. “It is with sadness but also great pride that I can announce my retirement from professional cricket,” Miles wrote.

“Although this was not an easy decision, with this decision I can now look back with joy and gratitude on my career, a game that has given me so much. “The longevity and achievements far exceed anything I could have dreamed of, and the friends, experiences and memories I have made will last a lifetime.” Despite playing four league games at the start of the season, Miles has been on leave with Gloucestershire since the opening rounds of the T20 Blast in June. He thanked the club for its “extraordinary” support during “the most precarious time of my career”.

“My recent absence from the game has given me the opportunity to reflect on and better understand myself and my relationship with cricket,” he added. “The challenges I have faced recently have been experienced at other times in my career, but never with the same intensity as this time. Craig Miles took the best four of 29 one-day matches against Yorkshire in 2015 en route to Gloucestershire’s One-Day Cup victory. Craig Miles (left) took the best four of 29 one-day matches, Yorkshire v Gloucestershire, Royal London Cup, Group A, Scarborough, July 26, 2015 “The high expectations I set for myself and the standards I have always strived to achieve have often been the trigger of these times.

Sometimes they affected my opinion of my abilities and performance. The resulting questions and self-doubt only reinforce an unnecessary narrative. “When you add in the volatility and uncertainty that cricket naturally brings, it becomes an unforgiving and ultimately unsustainable way to proach the game.

“Youthful naivety, ambition and a persistent desire to be the best player I can be have helped me overcome previous challenges. I saw them as bumps in the road, part of the process, or simply a period of form, and those were the justifications that allowed me to persist, bounce back and come through the other side. “Unfortunately, I now feel I no longer have the cacity to continue in a way that allows me to train, play and perform to a standard I can accept from myself.” Jon Lewis , Gloucestershire’s director of cricket, said: “Craig has come to a decision which, in my view, is incredibly brave.

The vulnerability he has shown in talking about what he’s been going through is a real strength of his. It shows the true character of the man that he’s willing to step away from something he loves, and he does so with the full backing of everyone at the club.” “Craig is a Gloucestershire boy. I was lucky enough to present him with his first c back in 2011, and he’s been incredibly proud to represent this wonderful club.

We’ll be working hard to support Craig as he transitions out of the game.” Miles added that he had given his professional career “a good go”, and thanked his family and colleagues for their support, as well as the Professional Cricketers’ Association and the mental health charity Sporting Chance. “Of course, there have also been so many periods when I’ve loved the game, played with freedom and truly expressed the player I am,” he said. “A first-class debut at 16, more than 200 games, over 500 wickets, a One-Day Cup and a Championship win – it’s been a pretty good go.

I can preciate those accomplishments more than ever now and, perhs for the first time, give myself the self-validation I deserve. “I’ve shared changing rooms with so many incredible people, played with and against some great players, and been fortunate enough to come out on the right side of some amazing games.” Craig Miles holds the ball aloft for his five-for, Warwickshire vs Lancashire, Bob Willis Trophy final, Lord’s, 1st day, September 28, 2021