Recurring ankle injury forces Tom Poynton to retire at 26

Tom Poynton, Derbyshire's 26-year-old wicketkeeper, has decided to call time on his career, two years after a car crash that killed his father and left him with an ankle injury that never fully healed. Poynton, who has featured in 47 first-class fixtures, conceded that the recent medical diagnosis following a relapsed ankle problem, pushed him to take the tough decision.

"It's been a really difficult decision to retire from the game I love, but the medical diagnosis and advice means I know that it's the right decision. I'm grateful to everyone in the Derbyshire cricket family and further afield who have helped me during my career, both on and off the field," Poynton said on Monday (July 18).
The decision brings an end to his decade-long association with Derbyshire, and a career at an age when others of his ilk begin to hit a purple patch, but Poynton manages to retain optimism and zest for what lay ahead.
"I've loved playing for Derbyshire, a club I've been associated with for over 10 years, and I'm sad to leave. I now need to focus on the next stage of my life after cricket. There's a few opportunities that I'm going to pursue and I'm excited about what lies ahead."
Poynton, a home-grown talent who rose up through the Derbyshire ranks to play for the senior side, received an emotional farewell from Simon Storey, the chief executive of Derbyshire.
"Tom is a model professional and leaves the club with a gap to fill on and off the field. He is a natural leader and fine cricketer who has overcome great personal tragedy in the process of representing his home county.
"He has shown huge commitment and courage to get back playing first-class cricket at Derbyshire and on behalf of the whole club - members, sponsors, supporters and staff - we all wish Tom every success in the future," Storey added.