Reports | Tim Murtagh ready to give up Ireland career to extend county cricket exploits
Tim Murtagh is set to announce his retirement from international cricket and follow fellow Irish cricketer Stuart Poynter in signing a long-term county contract. Murtagh has been a veteran on the county circuit and has claimed more than 800 wickets in a career that has spanned over 19 years.
The 38-year-old Irish veteran made his debut for the national team eight years ago, but has now reportedly told Cricket Ireland that he will be ending his career with Middlesex. However, whilst it is yet to be made official, he will still be available to play for Ireland against West Indies and in what could be his final test vs Sri Lanka in February, as the overseas rule in county cricket will come into effect from next season.
Having impressed whenever he has played for Ireand, Murtagh needs to play three more games to complete 100 international outings. Earlier this year, he was absolutely sensational in his spell against England at his Middlesex home ground of Lordsâ. His five-wicket haul almost sunk the hosts into a defeat that would have deemed to be a huge upset had Ireland gotten over the line. This shows that even at the age of 38, Murtagh will be dearly missed by the Irish pace attack.
However, his fellow teammate Paul Stirling, on the other hand, has decided to go the other way, leaving Middlesex next year to commit his future to Ireland.Â