Joe Root to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Root fans. Speculation had been rife that record run-scorer for England in Test cricket is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 35, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJoe

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouJoe was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Joe Root was unlike any other athlete we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouJoe”
— @universalObserver, 20 Mar 2026

“Didn't Joe Root retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 20 Mar 2026

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