Matt Kelly retirement

Australian Pacer Announces Retirement Ahead of Bangladesh Test Series

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Published - Aug 07, 2026, 09:15 AM

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Western Australia and Perth Scorchers fast bowler Matthew Kelly has brought the curtain down on his professional cricket career at the age of 31 after struggling with a series of injuries in recent seasons. Matt Kelly retirement comes after a strong domestic record across all three formats. The right-arm pacer played an important role during one of Western Australia's most successful periods.

He claimed consistent success in first-class cricket, taking wickets at an average of 27.43 in 59 matches, while also averaging 32.76 in List A cricket and 20.85 across 42 T20 appearances, most of which came for the Perth Scorchers. He was part of the team that secured three straight Sheffield Shield titles between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons.

Domestic Australian Pacer Matthew Kelly Announces Retirement

Matt Kelly was also part of one of the best teams in IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders camp during the 2019 season as a replacement for Anrich Nortje but didn't feature in the season. One of his standout performances came in the 2022-23 Sheffield Shield final against Victoria, where he picked up six wickets to finish a memorable campaign with 35 wickets at an average of 15.77.

"Walking through the WACA Ground gates for the first time, I could never imagine where, or how far, the game would take me," Kelly said.
"It quickly became my favourite place to be, and like so many fortunate enough to spend time there, it became a home away from home, and one that I loved. "To every team-mate that I've shared the field and the dressing room with, I simply want to say thank you," he added.

Kelly also enjoyed significant success with the Perth Scorchers in one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world, the Big Bash League. He produced figures of 2/37 in the 2022-23 BBL final against the Brisbane Heat after starring in the previous title-winning campaign, where he finished with 14 wickets at an impressive average of 12.78. Kelly also featured in three One-Day Cup finals during his time with the state side.

Following the announcement of his retirement, Western Australia Cricket General Manager Kade Harvey praised Kelly's impact on the team over the past decade. He added that Kelly earned the respect of teammates and staff alike and said the former fast bowler would always be welcome at the WACA Ground as he begins the next chapter of his career.