Craig Miles retires from cricket to prioritise mental health

The 32-year-old Gloucestershire bowler is stepping away after a 15-year professional career and more than 500 wickets, saying he needs to put his mental well-being first.

Fast bowler Craig Miles has announced his retirement from professional cricket at 32, saying he needs to prioritise his mental health. His open letter explaining the decision was published by Gloucestershire.

Miles ends a 15-year career with more than 500 wickets across formats. He made his first-class debut at 16, played more than 200 matches, and won both the One-Day Cup and the County Championship. His last appearance came in June during the Vitality Blast.

He said the high standards he set for himself and the self-doubt that followed had become increasingly difficult to manage. After taking time away from the game, Miles concluded he could no longer train and perform to a standard he could accept.

Gloucestershire director of cricket Jon Lewis called the decision brave and said the club would support Miles as he steps away from the professional game.