Croft stepped down from first-class and Listing A cricket on the finish of the 2023 summer season, and had been on a T20-only deal for this summer season’s marketing campaign. Nonetheless, he has now confirmed his full retirement with rapid impact, and can as an alternative transfer into Lancashire’s teaching workers on a full-time foundation.
His last look got here earlier this month, in Lancashire’s defeat to Sussex within the Vitality Blast quarter-final, and was his 600th match for the membership throughout codecs. He made his Lancashire debut in 2005, and went on to make a complete of 19,183 runs, in addition to declare 199 wickets together with his offspin.
Between June 2006 and July 2018, Croft performed 148 consecutive T20 matches for Lancashire, which is an English file. He finishes his profession as Lancashire’s main T20 run-scorer with 5,486 runs.
“My dream as a boy was to play one sport for Lancashire, in the long run it grew to become 600,” Croft mentioned. “So, after simply over twenty years of taking part in for the membership, I’ve taken the choice to retire as a participant.
“I can confidently say I’ve realised my dream and extra, and what a journey it has been. To go together with the video games, runs, wickets and catches, I’ve performed alongside a few of my heroes and plenty of greats of the sport.
“There have been so many highlights alongside the best way, too. Profitable the County Championship in 2011 will stick with me eternally. The 2015 T20 Blast too, what a fantastic evening that was! But additionally, being awarded my county cap and being appointed membership captain have been particular moments.
Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket, added: “On behalf of everybody on the membership, I wish to congratulate Steven on an unimaginable Lancashire profession.
“Steven epitomises every little thing good about this membership. He’s an excellent particular person who at all times places the crew first and anybody who has watched him is aware of that Steven places his coronary heart and soul into each sport and his file speaks for itself.
“To be such an influential member of our aspect – in addition to contributing to so many match-winning performances – over such a protracted time frame is one thing he must be very happy with.
“Gamers like Steven do not come round too usually and while we are going to miss his talent and expertise on the sector, we’re thrilled that he’ll proceed to play a significant position in persevering with to develop the thrilling younger gamers now we have at Emirates Previous Trafford, working throughout the Males’s First Group, Second XI and Academy.
“Even over the past 12 months, I have been actually impressed with how shortly he is taken to teaching and the influence he is had in a brief time frame. I’m trying ahead to seeing him develop these expertise within the subsequent chapter of his profession.”
