On 15 July 2026, Moises Henriques announced his retirement from all formats of Australian domestic cricket. The 39-year-old veteran will end a 22-year professional career with New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers. Henriques walks off the field as the most capped player in the history of Australian domestic cricket.
One of the league’s greatest calls time 🩷
After 15 seasons and three titles, legendary @SixersBBL captain Moises Henriques has announced his retirement. pic.twitter.com/hBApJSoHTl
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 16, 2026
The decision came after Sydney Sixers decided not to offer him a contract for the upcoming BBL|16 season. So the legendary skipper decided to call it quits on his journey in Australia rather than sign with a rival team.
A Record-Breaking Career Ends in Sydney
Moises Henriques played in 420 domestic matches in all formats, the only player to reach the 400-game mark. Henriques signed his first contract with NSW at 17 years old in 2004. He has been leading the way in the Big Bash League’s (BBL) growth ever since.
Record-breaking, history-making📈
The most-capped player in BBL history, Moises Henriques goes down as one of the league’s greats. pic.twitter.com/p8VE3qhyFM
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 16, 2026
The all-rounder has played every BBL season since the competition started 15 years ago. He holds the record for the most games in the men’s BBL with 154 appearances. He was skipper of the Sydney Sixers in 129 of those fixtures. He helped turn the Sixers into one of the league’s most successful franchises.
Henriques guided the team to three BBL titles. He won the Player of the Match award in the first BBL final when he scored 70 runs off 41 balls. So, his legacy is tied to the identity and culture of the Sydney Sixers.
Statistical Breakdown of a Cricket Legend
In his domestic career, Moises Henriques scored over 13000 runs and took 200 wickets. He was a favourite at the Sydney Cricket Ground for his ability to perform in pressure situations.
Thank you @Mozzie21
🚨 Moises Henriques in @BBL
🏆 🏆 🏆
Runs ➡️ 3324
50s ➡️ 17
Catches ➡️ 72
Wickets ➡️ 22
🏆 CHAMPION LEAGUE 2012 Twenty 20 as a @SixersBBL Player https://t.co/2TqWgQxgMr
— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) July 16, 2026
He captained NSW to three Sheffield Shield titles and five One-Day Cup trophies. In the meantime, he became the Sydney Sixers men’s all-time leading run-scorer with more than 3000 runs. He also took 72 catches and picked up 30 wickets for the Sixers.
What’s Next For Moises Henriques
Although Henriques has retired from Australian domestic cricket, he does not plan to stop playing entirely. He will now switch his international allegiance to Portugal, the country of his birth. Henriques was born in Funchal, Madeira, before moving to Australia as a child.
He will represent Portugal in the upcoming T20 World Cup qualifiers starting in August 2026. These matches take place in Finland as part of the qualification path for the 2028 T20 World Cup. Henriques became eligible for this switch after completing the International Cricket Council’s mandatory three-year waiting period. He last played for Australia in 2021, which means he has fulfilled all requirements to play for his birth nation.
Henriques expressed great pride in this new chapter. He noted that his family in Portugal feels very excited to see him wear the national jersey. He will now play in several leagues overseas. He has already signed up to play for Glasgow Cosmic in a new European T20 competition.
Who Will Replace Moises Henriques
The Sydney Sixers will have a big hole to fill in their leadership without Henriques. For the first time in four years, the club is now looking for a new captain. The current NSW captain Jack Edwards, seems a strong possibility. Many experts also consider Jordan Silk to be a potential leader for the franchise.
Babar Azam or Steve Smith New Captain of Sixers?
After 15 seasons and three titles, legendary Sixer’s captain Moises Henriques has retired. pic.twitter.com/TaQaOdDqoB
— Pakistan Cricket Team USA FC (@DoctorofCricket) July 16, 2026
Babar Azam is likely to captain the Sydney Sixers in the upcoming Big Bash League. Moises Henriques will remain involved in the sport in the role of director for the Cricket NSW Foundation. He has been in the job since late 2025 and wants to help young cricketers from all backgrounds succeed.
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