Melbourne Renegade: Jess Duffin retires from professional cricket

After a stellar international and domestic career spanning 15 years, Duffin has decided WBBL|09 will be her last and hung up her spikes following Saturday night’s MCG Derby.

The 34-year-old announced the news in front of teammates, family and friends in the MCG rooms pre game.

Duffin’s retirement marks the end of an era, not only for the Melbourne Renegades but for Australian cricket.

She has been a pivotal player for the Melbourne Renegades across her 66 WBBL games, contributing both on and off the field. Her dedication and skill have made her a fan favourite, and her leadership qualities have been instrumental in shaping the team’s culture.

She finishes a former club captain and currently sits third (1316) for most runs scored by a Renegade. She has previously represented Australia on 117 occasions, across all three formats of the game, winning four World Cups across ODI and T20s.

“Jess is a much-loved figure at the Melbourne Renegades, her impact across our organisation has been immense,” Melbourne Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten said.

“Her leadership, dedication, and cricketing prowess have set a high standard for our players. And we’ll really miss that.

“She’ll always have a place within the Melbourne Renegades family and we wish her and her family all the best in her future.”

The cross-code star re-joined the Renegades ahead of WBBL|09 following a stint with Hawthorn in the AFLW competition.

She most recently played for the Renegades two seasons ago, in WBBL|07, juggling her cricket commitments and AFLW pre-season training – before the two sporting seasons overlapped.

Duffin was vice-captain for the Hawks in in their inaugural season but cited unfinished business in cricket. She announced her AFLW retirement at the end of last year and returned to the Gades after welcoming her second child, Archie, to the world in May.