Surrey fast bowler Matt Dunn has this week confirmed his immediate retirement from professional cricket at the age of 29. He’s been dealing with constant shoulder injuries for over a year now. The 33-year-old cricketer made his first class debut for Surrey back in 2010. Since then he has struggled to regain form following a shoulder cartilage tear sustained in a second XI fixture against Middlesex in May 2024.
Dunn had surgery back in January, but the optimism is that he’ll be able to return to game form this season and make a positive impact. In spite of all his attempts—including several medical injections—he was unable to get past the chronic pain. Dunn’s medical team from Surrey strongly advised Dunn to make a medical retirement decision. Even his surgeon was on board, saying that everything had been done to help him recover.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with a shoulder injury for the last 14 months now,” – Matt Dunn
Retreating back to Dunn, he’s taken a remarkable 115 first-class scalps for Surrey, that’s quite the haul. He has bagged 52 more wickets in white-ball cricket. He has four first-class five-wicket hauls to his name – a record for an active player. He has been instrumental for the Surrey team, winning the County championship title on four occasions since 2018. His authentic contributions continue to shape him as one of the most influential guys on his team and in the league today.
As he makes his move beyond the game of cricket, Dunn looked back on what’s been an impressive run with the club.
“For me, the club is, and has been, an absolutely massive part of my life for a long time and it will be for a long time. I don’t think you ever really do properly leave this place,” – Matt Dunn
Dunn’s personal life, too, took a series of hits these past few years. His daughter, Florence, was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a severe and rare form of epilepsy, in 2021. Sadly, Florence passed earlier this year in 2023. In her memory Dunn and his wife Jessica joined forces and raised more than £40,000 for Dravet Syndrome UK. This experience has changed the course of Dunn’s life and how he sees the world today.
“At the end of the day, sport takes a lot of sacrifice, and I look back on my personal life, I’ve missed a lot of it here,” – Matt Dunn
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