Doug Bracewell retires from all forms of cricket, thus bringing to an end his long and successful career representing New Zealand Cricket. At 35 years of age, Bracewell has decided to leave cricket, having dedicated himself to playing for New Zealand and Central Districts with pride, passion, and commitment for many years.
Doug Bracewell Career Stats in Batting & Fielding:
| Format | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100s | 50s |
| Tests | 28 | 568 | 47 | 13.85 | 46.36 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 21 | 221 | 57 | 18.41 | 80.65 | 0 | 1 |
| T20Is | 20 | 126 | 44 | 21 | 140 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 137 | 4505 | 105 | 25.45 | 58.24 | 3 | 24 |
| List A | 93 | 1458 | 94 | 24.3 | 96.62 | 0 | 7 |
| T20s | 99 | 1274 | 93* | 27.69 | 153.86 | 0 | 3 |
Doug Bracewell Career Stats in Bowling:
| Format | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | Ave | SR |
| Tests | 28 | 5164 | 2873 | 74 | 38.82 | 69.7 |
| ODIs | 21 | 1016 | 845 | 26 | 32.5 | 39 |
| T20Is | 20 | 310 | 470 | 20 | 23.5 | 15.5 |
| FC | 137 | 23974 | 13116 | 422 | 31.08 | 56.8 |
| List A | 93 | 4109 | 3443 | 112 | 30.74 | 36.6 |
| T20s | 99 | 1802 | 2573 | 103 | 24.98 | 17.4 |
Bracewell’s journey began at a young age when he played for Central Districts as a teenager in 2008. He demonstrated great promise right from the beginning. He demonstrated an ability to swing the ball and played a significant role with his bat, which drew considerable attention. Consequently, he was presented with larger opportunities shortly thereafter.
Eventually, he received a call to join the New Zealand team during the 2011-12 season, and that moment changed everything for him. While playing in his third Test match against Australia in Hobart, Bracewell had one of the best bowler/innings cycles of his career when he captured 6 wickets in the final innings. This outstanding effort was essential to New Zealand’s thrilling 7-run victory. It was the first Test win for New Zealand in Australia for 26 years.
From then, Bracewell became regularly selected for the Black Caps and played in every international format, Test matches (28), One Day Internationals (21), and Twenty20 matches (20), between 2011 and 2023. In addition, he featured in ICC tournaments, including the T20 World Cup. His versatility made him a useful option across conditions and formats.
Bracewell has always had a strong and consistent domestic career. For over ten years, he served as an important player for his region (Central Districts), being a match-winner on many occasions, season after season, contributing both batting and bowling skills. He is one of only three players in New Zealand history to have achieved over 4000 runs scored and over 400 wickets taken in first-class cricket, showing that he is a true all-rounder.
However, Bracewell’s path did not always go smoothly, as he was tested frequently by injuries. He suffered from knee injuries in 2016 and 2019, which kept him away from playing for extended periods. Nevertheless, Bracewell continued to return to form stronger than before. A rib injury that would continue to be a problem for him in the years following his last injury also had a significant part in his decision to retire from the game.
In addition to his statistics and records accumulated during his career, Bracewell will be remembered by his teammates for his character. He was respected by many of his teammates for his discipline and professionalism as a player, and he helped to support younger players throughout the squad. His presence in the dressing room provided a good balance of experience and maturity. Furthermore, his honesty in his approach to the game was respected by his fans.
Bracewell leaves the game with great gratitude for his family, teammates, coaches, and supporters for standing behind him throughout his career. Looking back, his journey reflects resilience, patience, and love for the sport.
In the end, Doug Bracewell retires from all forms of cricket as a respected all-rounder who gave his best at every level. His legacy will continue to inspire young cricketers aiming to make their mark in New Zealand cricket.
