Joe Denly to Retire From Cricket at the End of the 2026 Season
Former England batter Joe Denly, 40, will retire after the 2026 campaign, ending a career of 729 professional matches that began with Kent in 2004.
By SportCricket Desk · 17 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Former England batter Joe Denly has announced he will retire from cricket at the end of the 2026 campaign. The 40-year-old right-hander debuted in first-class cricket for Kent against Oxford UCCE in 2004.
England career
Denly first played for England in an ODI against Ireland in August 2009 and scored 67 on debut. He went on to make 44 appearances across all formats, scoring close to 1,400 runs and taking 10 wickets. His last international was a T20I against Australia in September 2020.
A memorable day at The Oval
One of his standout performances came for Kent against Surrey at The Oval in the 2018 T20 Blast, when he hit 102 off 63 balls and then took a hat-trick, one of the victims being Jamie Smith, now England’s wicketkeeper.
The numbers
Denly has played 729 professional matches across the three formats. He has 14,228 first-class runs, including 32 centuries, and 7,203 runs in T20 cricket.
His words
On Kent’s website, Denly wrote that cricket had given him more than he could have imagined and that every moment, from his Kent debut to playing for England, had been a privilege. He called Kent his second home and thanked the club for the opportunities, friendships and memories.
He added that his passion for the game remains as strong as ever. He hopes to stay involved and give something back, helping the next generation enjoy the opportunities he has had.
