Arlene Kelly Retires As Ireland's Third-Highest Wicket-Taker

Arlene Kelly retires from international cricket as the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of Ireland Women. The all-rounder is 32. She confirmed the decision on Sunday, during Ireland's third one-day international against England at New Road in Worcester. She leaves with 135 wickets from 110 appearances.

Kelly made her debut in June 2022 against South Africa. Four and a half years later she is going home to New Zealand. Only Isobel Joyce and Laura Delany have taken more wickets for Ireland Women.

Third on Ireland's wicket list

One hundred and ten caps in four and a half years is a heavy load. Kelly bowled medium pace and swung it. Control was the asset rather than speed. She added 601 runs in white-ball cricket. The BBC reported her highest score in either format as 35.

Kelly was born in New Zealand. She came to Ireland as an overseas player for Malahide before her international debut, which CricTracker places at Pembroke Cricket Club on 3 June 2022. She was in the side for most of the four years that followed. She also took the captaincy in 2025, standing in when Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast were both unavailable, on the ICC's account of her career.

The Netherlands five-for and a season of awards

Her best return came against the Netherlands in a T20I in 2023. She took 5 for 12. That season she was named Cricket Ireland's Women's International Player of the Year. She also won the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for August 2023.

Kelly's Ireland record

Her career in numbers:

• 110 appearances across formats
• 135 international wickets, third on Ireland's all-time list
• 601 runs in white-ball cricket
• Best figures of 5 for 12 in a T20I against the Netherlands in 2023
• Cricket Ireland Women's International Player of the Year, 2023

Reaction from the Ireland camp

"It's been an absolute privilege to represent Ireland over the past four-and-a-half years and I've been fortunate enough to make so many amazing memories both on and off the field," Kelly said. "The time feels right to hang up the boots and head back to New Zealand to be around my family and friends."

Lewis, the Ireland captain, recalled how Kelly arrived. "She came over to Ireland as an overseas player for Malahide CC and I don't think any of us could have imagined then just how important she would become to our group," she said, in comments reported by the BBC.

Head coach Lloyd Tennant called her a big loss. "She's been so reliable and handles pressure situations extremely well," he said. England had already won the series before the Worcester match. Tennant now has a gap in his seam attack.