Quinton de Kock. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
BREAKING: Quinton de Kock in another bombshell retirement
Proteas star Quinton de Kock, who is just 30 years old, has confirmed he will retire from ODI cricket after this year’s World Cup.
Quinton de Kock. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
On Tuesday, Quinton de Kock was named in the Proteas’ 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to be played in India from 05 October–19 November.
De Kock, who captained the team from 2020 to 2021, took the time to also announce he would be retiring from ODI cricket after the global event, which comes after he confirmed at the end of 2021 that he would be retiring from Test cricket.
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His only focus now will be on T20 action.
Since making his ODI debut in 2013, the 30-year-old has scored 5,966 runs in 140 matches at an average of 44.85, including a career-best 178 against Australia in Centurion in 2016.
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Quinton de Kock will only be available to the Proteas in one format now
“Quinton de Kock has been a really good servant to South African cricket,” said CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe.
“He set the benchmark with his attacking batting style and was a key member of the squad for a number of years. He also wore the captain’s armband and that is an honour that very few people get to hold.
“We understand his decision to step back from ODI cricket and we want to thank him for his service over the years. We wish him well for the future but still look forward to seeing him represent the Proteas in T20I cricket.”
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After confirming he would be retiring from Test cricket in 2021, De Kock cited his intentions to spend more time with his growing family for the timing and reason for his relatively early retirement from the format.
HIS TEST RETIREMENT STATEMENT READ AS FOLLOWS:
“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.
I love Test cricket and I love representing my country and all that it comes with. I’ve enjoyed the ups and the downs, the celebrations and even the disappointments, but now I’ve found something that I love even more.
In life, you can buy almost everything except for time, and right now, it’s time to do right by the people that mean the most to me.
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.
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.
All the best to my teammates for the remainder of this Test series against India.
See you in the ODIs and T20s.
Quinny.”
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