William Porterfield, the former captain of Ireland, announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, following a 16-year career.
Porterfield, 37, informed Cricket Ireland of his choice earlier this week, and the board officially announced his decision on Thursday. He finishes his career as Ireland's third-most capped international and second-highest run-scorer.
Porterfield was a pillar at the top of the order for Ireland, scoring close to 10,000 runs internationally across all competitions, from various World Cricket League competitions to global tournaments and finally in whites, when his side was awarded Full Member status, with 11 ODI centuries and a total of 34 scores over fifty in ODI and T20I cricket.
Porterfield was named captain in 2008 and led his squad over 250 times during a successful spell for the team. He led Ireland in their first Test match and the Lord's Test against England before turning over the reins to Andrew Balbirnie.
Porterfield captained Ireland in two Cricket World Cup campaigns and five T20 World Cups, most notably in the 2011 50-over event in Bangalore, where they shocked England.
Porterfield has remained a member of Ireland's ODI squad since surrendering the captaincy, scoring half-centuries against South Africa and Zimbabwe in the side's Super League campaign last year.
"It's been a privilege to represent my country for the past 16 years; it's something I've wanted to do since I was a child. But, having made the decision to step away and retire, it's a little weird at the moment, but I've been privileged to play since 2006, and it's been an unbelievable trip "Porterfield remarked this as he reflected on the situation.
"We've progressed from an amateur squad to a Test nation during the course of my career. We have ideally constructed an infrastructure that will allow the game in Ireland to continue to thrive, thanks to those who came before me and along my journey. All I've ever wanted to do was leave the shirt in a better place and the team in a better place, and hopefully I've succeeded "He went on to say.
Porterfield will now focus his efforts on coaching, having previously worked in county cricket with Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.