Centurion: In a shocking turn of events, South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock on Thursday has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect.
The announcement came after the Proteas’ first Test match against India in Centurion, where the visitors won by 113 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. He was set to go on a paternity leave and miss the second and third Test against India. But CSA confirmed through a press release that the left-hander has decided not to feature in the Test format anymore.
As per Cricket South Africa (CSA), the 29-year old De Kock cited the reason to spend more time with his growing family for the timing and reason for his relatively early retirement from the format. “He and his wife, Sasha, are anticipating the imminent birth of their first-born child in the coming days,” the CSA said in a statement.
BREAKING: #Proteas wicket-keeper batsman, Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, citing his intentions to spend more time with his growing family.
Full statement: https://t.co/Tssys5FJMI pic.twitter.com/kVO8d1e0Ex
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 30, 2021
In an official statement, Quinton de Kock admitted that it was not an easy decision for him. However, he is wishing to spend more time with his wife Sasha and the couple is set to welcome their first child together.
“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily. I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what need to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that.” the 29-year old said in a statement.
Since his Proteas Test debut against Australia in 2014 the wicketkeeper-batsman has been one of the key players of the side. In 54 matches, he amassed 3300 runs with a high score of 141 not-out, at an average of 38.82 and strike rate of 70.93. He also has six centuries and 22 half-centuries under his belt. In what turned out to be his last Test match, he scored 34 and 21 runs, respectively.
“My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during this new and exciting chapter of our lives. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of my Test cricket journey from the very beginning. To my coaches, teammates, the various management teams and my family and friends I couldn’t have shown up as I did without your support.” said de Kock
“This is not the end of my career as a Protea, I’m fully committed to white ball cricket and representing my country to the best of my ability for the foreseeable future.” he concluded.
