17 Aug 2015 | Cricket
Glamorgan bowler Will Owen has decided to retire from cricket following a lengthy battle with back and hip injuries that included multiple surgeries.
Brought up in Prestatyn, the 26-year-old, made his first-class debut for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in the final County Championship match of the 2007 season.
After completing his studies at Cardiff Met, Will became a member of Glamorgan's 1st XI squad in 2011, a season which saw him take 30 first-class wickets and also making 69 against Derbyshire, sharing a club-record tenth wicket stand with James Harris. The season before had also seen him claim career best figures in one-day cricket of 5-49 against the Unicorns at Bournemouth.
After missing most of 2013 through injury Owen returned to action in the shortest format of the game in 2014, featuring in several of the county's games in the NatWest T20 Blast, but despite surgery and a long period of rehabilitation treatment and training, he has been unable to return the level of performance for first team cricket in 2015.
Owen said: It is with great disappointment that I announce my retirement. The last couple of seasons have been very difficult as I've tried to get back playing to peak performance.
I am thankful for the support I have received from the Club, particularly the medical and conditioning staff. As I look back I'm proud to have lived my dream to play cricket for Glamorgan and I wish the club well for the future.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all coaches who I have worked with and who have helped me become the player I was and to the PCA. I also have to thank all the supporters for sticking through the tough as well as the good times with me and to the players I have played with who have made the journey so memorable.
Director of Cricket and Chief Executive Hugh Morris added: It is a great shame Will has retired from the game at an age when a player would expect to have many more years left to play.
He delivered some impressive spells in recent seasons in both the longer and short form of the game and his likeable personality and professional nature will be missed by the team and everyone at the Club. We wish him well for the future.