In the game of cricket, jersey numbers play a big role as it is the identity of a player. This number gives name and fame, fans and commentators recognize players by their numbers across all formats. But do you know that some jersey numbers are banned or unavailable? These numbers have either been retired or have been ‘banned’ by National Cricket Board of the respective country for a specific reason. Although the ICC has not imposed a global ban on any number, cricket boards of many countries have retired some numbers to honor their great players.
Which countries banned which jersey numbers in Cricket?
India (BCCI)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has retired two iconic numbers:
#10: This number of Sachin Tendulkar, known as the God of Cricket, was retired in 2017. Sachin had scored 100 international centuries with this number.
#7: This iconic number of World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni was retired in December 2023. Dhoni led India to victory in the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cups with this number.
Australia (Cricket Australia)
#64: This number was retired in honour of Phillip Hughes after his tragic death in 2014. Hughes wore 64 number jersey in ODIs, and now this number is not available.
New Zealand (New Zealand Cricket)
New Zealand Cricket has retired several numbers to honor many of its legendary players. As compared to other national cricket boards, the list of banned jersey numbers of New Zealand team is big. Here’s the name and unavailable numbers:
#7: Stephen Fleming (former captain)
#11: Daniel Vettori (legendary spinner)
#42: Brendon McCullum (aggressive wicket keeper-batsman)
#5: Chris Harris (1990s all-rounder)
#9: Nathan Astle (middle-order batsman)
#6: Chris Cairns (fast bowler-batsman)
#3: Ross Taylor (New Zealand’s highest run-scorer)
Nepal (Cricket Association of Nepal)
#77: This number was retired in honor of former Nepal captain Paras Khadka.
Important facts related to jersey numbers
No global ban: The ICC has not banned any jersey number globally. This decision is taken by the cricket boards of different countries. It is the decision of the National Cricket Board whether the player has the freedom to choose this jersey number or not! If desired number is not available, player has to choose another one!
Available for other teams: If a number is retired in one country, it can be worn by players from another country. For example, jersey number 10 and 7 are retired in India, but a player from Pakistan, England, Ireland, or Australia can wear it.
Situation in franchise cricket: In leagues like IPL, BBL, WPL, WCL, the jersey numbers are chosen by the franchise. A number retired in the national team can be used in the league by the player of any team.
However, some franchises in private leagues respect jersey numbers and don’t give them to other players. Example: The Mumbai Indians have retired the number 10 jersey as a mark of respect for the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who represented the franchise for several seasons. This was confirmed by @mipaltan on X as the icon played Sachin Tendulkar retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL) in May 2013.
Exceptions (rare): Sometimes retired numbers can be used with special permission, but it is very rare. For now no player has claimed a retired jersey number!
Conclusion
Jersey numbers in cricket are not just a number but become a legacy of the players. When a number is retired, it is a way of saluting the contribution of that player. Sachin’s #10, Dhoni’s #7 or Phillip Hughes’ #64 – all these numbers have now become a part of cricket history. Future generations will keep remembering these great players by looking at these numbers and in this list we can see more names like Rohit Sharma’s #45, and Virat Kohli’s 18.
What’s your thoughts on Retired Jersey Numbers? Which one is your favorite? Please let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to share with others!
