English pacer Steven Finn retires from all forms of cricket

Vartha Bharati | 14-08-2023 | 22:43:00 IST

Steven Finn (Photo: Sussex Cricket/ Instagram)

London, Aug 14: Former England pacer Steven Finn called time on his professional career, announcing retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday after ''admitting defeat'' to a chronic knee injury.

A knee injury that he suffered almost a year ago kept him out of action, as he missed most of the activity this year, prompting him to end his 18-year career.

In a statement issued by Sussex County Cricket Club, the 34-year-old Finn said, ''Today, I am retiring from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. I have been fighting a battle with my body for the last 12 months and have admitted defeat to it.'' ''To have played 125 games for England, including 36 Tests, far surpassed what I dreamed of. I want to thank Sussex Cricket for their support over the last 12 months especially and for welcoming me wholeheartedly into the Club at the beginning of last season.'' He added, ''I retire with some amazing memories with England, Middlesex and Sussex, shared with fantastic people. Those will live with me forever.

''Thank you to all the people who have followed and supported my career, especially my parents who allowed me to chase my dream when I was a youngster.'' Finn has had a decent career with England, having featured in 36 Tests, 69 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals. Making his debut in 2010, he grabbed 14 wickets during the 2010-11 Ashes, which his side famously won 3-1 in Australia.

He was also a part of England's 2015 Ashes triumph, where he finished with 12 scalps, the second most for his side. Overall, he has taken 125 wickets in the longest format at an average of 30.40.

Finn also has decent numbers in the white-ball formats. While he claimed 102 wickets in 69 ODIs at 29.37 and an economy of 5.06, in T20Is, he has 27 from 21 at an economy rate of 3.55.

In the domestic circuit, he began his career with Middlesex in 2005 before moving to Sussex last year. The other sides he has played for include Otago Volts (New Zealand), Islamabad United (PSL) and Manchester Originals (The Hundred).

Speaking on Finn's retirement, Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace commented, ''Steven has been a fantastic bowler for Middlesex, Sussex and England.'' ''I have had the real pleasure of watching him develop from a young bowler in the pathway to being three times Ashes winner.

''Over the next few weeks and months, I'm sure he will look back on his career with great pride and reflect on his huge contribution to the game,'' he concluded.

💙 🦈 https://t.co/LWIJJ5MQFx
— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) August 14, 2023

Congratulations on a fantastic career, @finnysteve! 🌟
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 14, 2023

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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful

25-04-2026 ¦ 25-04-2026 IST

Image Credit: PTI

Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.

Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.

A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.

The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.

The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.

The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.

Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.

Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.

Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.

"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.

The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.

Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.

This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.

Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.

“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.

He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.

RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.

Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.

Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.

The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.