Shoulder injury forces Surrey bowler Dunn to retire

Surrey fast bowler Matt Dunn played his final first-class game for the county against Leicestershire in 2021

Surrey fast bowler Matt Dunn is to retire from professional cricket "with immediate effect" because of injury, his club has announced.

Dunn, 33, has failed to recover fully after tearing cartilage in his shoulder during a second XI match against Middlesex in May 2024.

He had surgery, but Surrey's medical team and his surgeon have advised him to retire on medical grounds because of on-going pain.

Dunn made his debut for Surrey in 2010 and was part of their squad which has won the County Championship four times since 2018.

Dunn explained his decision, claiming he had run "out of options" because of pain.

"Unfortunately, I've been struggling with a shoulder injury for the last 14 months now," he told Surrey's website.

"I had a surgery in January, tried my best this year to come back, took multiple injections, but unfortunately, we've reached a point where we're kind of out of options medically.

"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."

In a career hampered by a number of injuries, he claimed 115 first-class wickets for Surrey, including four five-wicket hauls, to go with a further 52 in white-ball cricket.

Dunn returned after suffering a tragic personal loss

Born in Egham, Dunn joined the Surrey talent pathway at the under-13 level before graduating to the first team in 2010.

His daughter Florence was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, in 2021 and he took time away from the game to support his family.

Florence passed away in 2023 and Matt, his wife Jessica and their family raised over £40,000 in her memory with the charity Dravet Syndrome UK.

Dunn knows he has had to sacrifice much personally because of cricket and is looking forward to putting his family first.

"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," he said.

"I've missed weddings, I've missed personal events. I've missed so much for my career, and a lot of people have stayed by my side throughout that.

"I thank them for that because at times you do have to be selfish, you do have to put everything into the career.

"Everyone who's been there and facilitated that, just a massive thanks and on to the next chapter."

Karvelas joins Surrey

Later on Thursday, Surrey announced the signing of seamer Ari Karvelas from Sussex on loan for the remainder of the One-Day Cup competition.

Surrey academy batter Ollie Hunt also joins up alongside ex-Surrey academy fast-bowler Luke Griffiths.

These additions to the squad come after season-ending injuries to Cam Steel and Alex French.