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Hampshire and England fast bowler John Turner has retired from all forms of professional cricket, aged 25
Hampshire and England pace bowler John Turner has retired from professional cricket with immediate effect.
Turner was born in South Africa but qualified to play for England in 2024 and represented the Three Lions in two ODIs and two IT20s against the West Indies in the winter of 2024.
He took 97 wickets in 53 matches for Hampshire across all formats, and retires after a series of injuries, including a stress fracture which has ruled him out of competitive cricket since June 2025.
Turner made his debut for Hampshire in the 2021 Royal London Cup and claimed England legend Alastair Cook as his first professional wicket. He ended the competition as Hampshire’s joint second-leading wicket-taker.
He claimed his maiden five-wicket haul on his First-Class debut against the touring Sri Lanka Development XI. Turner would go on to feature in six County Championship matches and take 16 wickets, with his best figures of 3/54 coming in his last outing in the format against Sussex at Utilita Bowl in 2025.
It was in T20 cricket that Turner burst onto the scene. On his Vitality Blast debut, against Middlesex at Radlett, the right-arm quick took two wickets in his first over – including a wicket with his first ball – and ended with 3/30 from his four overs.
His 21 wickets in 2023 were second only to Nathan Ellis in the Hawks’ side as the team reached Finals Day for a tenth time, and he helped the club to the final of the 2025 season.
“It was always my dream to play professional and international cricket, and doing so for Hampshire and England has been nothing short of living out those same childhood dreams. I have, however, decided to retire from the game, and as you can imagine, this has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. The stress fracture, which has sidelined me for over a year, as well as my injury record, naturally made me think of my future both as a cricketer and away from the game, and subsequently, I decided now was the right time to pursue my next challenge.
The five years I have been able to call myself a professional cricketer for Hampshire have been the greatest five years possible. From the day I joined the club in pursuit of a dream, everyone was extremely welcoming, and this never changed. The opportunity and belief the club showed in me are something I could never thank them enough for. I have experienced more over the last few years than I could ever imagine, and none of that would be possible without the support from everyone at the club.
To everyone I have shared the dressing room with, I owe you a massive thank you and cannot wait to relive some of the memories in the years to come. The coaches, medical team, and everyone at the club have all been incredible, and it’s a testament to the environment which has been created. Finally, the support which the team gets from the fans is ultimately what makes being a sportsperson so special, so thank you for your unwavering support, and for always driving the club to challenge for titles.
Hampshire will always hold a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to watch the future successes of the club over the coming years.
John Turner
On the international stage, Turner earned his first England call-up just two months after making his T20 debut for the Three Lions’ series against New Zealand.
He would have to wait until October 2024 to make his international debut when he was part of England’s white ball squads that toured the West Indies.
His first wicket in England colours came in the 2nd ODI of the series in Antigua, where Turner removed Brandon King with his fourth ball of the innings. He ended up with figures of 2/42 as England won the match by five wickets.
Turner’s IT20 debut followed, and he dismissed West Indies captain Rovman Powell as his first in the format, and he would earn a further England Lions call in the winter of 2024/25.
John is an exceptionally talented player, and all of Hampshire Cricket is saddened that his journey in the professional game has come to an end. He has played a huge part in a successful period in Hampshire’s history over the past five years, reaching four T20 Finals Days, challenging at the top of Division One in the County Championship, and making the final of the One-Day Cup twice. He gave everything for the club and for England, and whilst we are saddened that he has called time on his playing career, we wish him all the best in his next chapter, and we will look forward to welcoming him back in the future.
Giles White, Director of Cricket
His last professional match came in the 2025 Vitality Blast, against Surrey at Utilita Bowl, before he picked up a stress fracture and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
He graduated from the University of Exeter in 2024 with a degree in Economics and Finance. Everyone at Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl wishes John the very best for the future.
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