Moises Henriques, the highest-scoring player in the BBL and Australian domestic cricket in general, has announced his retirement from the Sydney Sixers and New South Wales but will continue to play associate cricket for Portugal, the country in which he was born, after becoming eligible to play in World Cup qualifiers.Henriques, 39, retired from first-class cricket in March 2025 but played List A cricket for New South Wales last summer and captained the Sixers in the BBL final in January. He was not given a new contract with the Sixers and decided to retire as a one-club player despite interest from other BBL teams.
He has 154 BBL matches to his name, playing all 15 seasons, including a finals appearance in his first and last seasons. Nobody played more than 420 home matches for Henriques across all formats in Australia, including 110 first-class matches for New South Wales and 112 List A games. He also played 38 T20 matches for New South Wales and a further six for the Sixers in the Champions League when they won the 2012–13 season.
He last played international cricket for Australia in 2021, finishing with four Tests, 16 ODIs and 24 T20Is to his name.
“I have been very fortunate to have cricket as my job for the last 22 years as a professional athlete,” Henriques said. “I had interest from other BBL teams but it didn’t feel right to go anywhere else.
“To the people I have had the pleasure of playing and working with, I would like to thank you. If it weren’t for this relationship and the deep care I have for it, I’m sure I would have lived to see this day much sooner.
“I think it’s time for me to call time on my career and start looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”
Moises Henriques has won three BBL titles.•Getty Images
Rachel Haynes, Sixers general manager, called Henriques “one of the most influential figures in the history of the Sydney Sixers and the BBL”. He finishes his career as the Sixers’ leading scorer and is currently ranked second on the tournament’s all-time list.
NSW chairman John Knox paid tribute to Henriques’ long career.
“On behalf of the NSW Cricket Board, our organization and our state’s cricket community, I congratulate Moises Henriques on his outstanding playing career with the NSW Blues and Sydney Sixers,” Knox said.
“Moises is the most capped player in Australian cricket history with 420 caps over 22 years and our programs have produced 14 major trophies, over 13,000 runs and 200 wickets. This is a wonderful record.
“His lasting legacy within the playing group will be his leadership. This trait was ingrained in him from an early age, and he led his team in almost half the matches played over those two decades.”
“We congratulate him on his achievements as a player and look forward to continuing to work with him as director of the NSW Cricket Foundation.”
BBL general manager Alistair Dobson also praised Henriques’ contribution.
“The Big Bash League congratulates Moises Henriques on a remarkable career with the Sydney Sixers,” he said. “As the most capped player and three-time champion, Moises retires as one of the most decorated and influential players in BBL history.
“Throughout his 15-season career with the Sixers, Moises has earned the respect and admiration of his teammates, opponents and fans alike. We thank him for his enormous contribution to BBL and wish him success in his future endeavors.”
Alex Malcolm is Deputy Editor of Cricinfo