Quinton de Kock declares retirement from Test cricket

South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Kock, introduced his retirement from Test cricket with quick impact on Thursday. The announcement comes on the backdrop of South Africa’s defeat within the first Test match towards India in Centurion, the place the guests gained by 113 runs and took a 1-0 lead within the three-match collection.
De Kock, 29, made his Test debut towards Australia in Port Elizabeth in 2014. In 54 matches, he has scored 3300 runs with the very best rating of 141 not-out, at a mean of 38.82 and strike charge of 70.93. He additionally has six centuries and 22 half-centuries below his belt.

Behind the stumps, he has 232 dismissals, together with 221 catches and 11 stumpings. De Kock has additionally taken the third-most catches within the inaugural ICC World Test Championship – 48 in 11 matches (47 catches and 1 stumping) and has a private better of six dismissals in an innings, towards England in Centurion in 2019.
Incidentally, de Kock started 2021 as South Africa’s non permanent Test captain and ended it by retiring from the format.
In a press release launched, the southpaw revealed that he intends to spend extra time together with his rising household and therefore took the decision for comparatively early retirement from the format. He and his spouse, Sasha, are anticipating the upcoming beginning of their first-born baby within the coming days.
“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 needs 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. 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,” de Kock mentioned in a press release issued by CSA.

“I like Test cricket and I like representing my nation and all that it comes with. I’ve loved the ups and the downs, the celebrations and even the disappointments, however now I’ve discovered one thing that I like much more.
“In life, you should purchase virtually every thing apart from time, and proper now, it’s time to do proper by the folks that imply essentially the most to me.
“I wish to take this chance to thank everybody who has been part of my Test cricket journey from the very starting. To my coaches, teammates, the varied administration groups and my household and associates – I couldn’t have proven up as I did with out your assist.
“This just isn’t the tip of my profession as a Protea, I’m absolutely dedicated to white ball cricket and representing my nation to the perfect of my means for the foreseeable future.
“All the perfect to my teammates for the rest of this Test collection towards India.
“See you in the ODIs and T20s,” it concluded.