In a historic moment during the T20 World Cup, Namibian opener Nikolaas Davin etched his name in the record books by becoming the first batter to “retire out” in the tournament’s 17-year history. This unique feat occurred during a Group Stage match against England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Nikolaas Davin’s Unconventional Dismissal
Davin retired out when he was batting on 18 runs off 16 balls in the sixth over of Namibia’s 127-run chase. His decision to retire out meant that he could not return to the crease, unlike the more common scenario of being “retired hurt.” According to MCC’s Law 25.4.3, if a batter retires for any reason other than illness, injury, or unavoidable causes, their innings may be resumed only with the opposing captain’s consent. If not resumed, the batter is recorded as “Retired – out.”
Despite Davin’s historic moment, Namibia lost the match by 41 runs, ending with 84 for three in 10 overs while chasing England’s revised target of 126. Rain had delayed the start of play, leading to a shortened 10-overs-per-side contest. David Wiese, who came in after Davin’s retirement, played a quickfire innings of 27 runs off 12 balls, including two fours and as many sixes.
Interestingly, Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin had also “retired out” during the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Promoted to No. 6 for the Rajasthan Royals, Ashwin walked off the field when he was on 28 off 23, allowing Riyan Parag to join Shimron Hetmyer in the middle.
Nikolaas Davin’s achievement adds a new chapter to T20 World Cup history, highlighting the unpredictability and excitement of the shortest format of the game. Cricket fans around the world will remember this rare feat for years to come.
