South African wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock retires from Test cricket

In 54 matches, he scored 3,300 runs, with the highest score of 141 not-out at an average of 38.82 and strike rate of 70.93.

Quinton de Kock; Credit: Twitter/@OfficialCSA
By Sreejith C R | Dec 31, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

South Africa wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. The announcement came hours after India defeated the Proteas by 113 runs in the first Test at Centurion. Cricket South Africa released a statement by De Kock on Thursday conveying his decision to retire from Tests. The 29-year-old said he was committed to playing international limited-overs cricket.

Not an easy decision to make: Quinton de Kock

“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily,” the release quoted De Kock as saying. “I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like. What needs to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world. My family is everything to me. I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during this new 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.”

Read | Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team create history with win in Centurion Test

“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.

I’m fully committed to white-ball cricket: 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.” De Kock concluded.

De Kock’s retirement comes at a time when the South African team is going through a tough transition. None of the batters in the Test squad other than captain Dean Elgar has a better batting record than the 29-year-old.

In the Centurion Test, the left-handed batter was twice chopped on. First to Shardul Thakur, then to Mohammed Siraj. He has been bowled off the edge before in his 91 innings. But only once by a seamer and never twice in the same match.

De Kock made his Proteas debut against Australia in 2014. In 54 matches, he scored 3,300 runs. His highest score is 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. 

Meanwhile he was also a world class wicketkeeper, having made 231 dismissals, including 221 catches and 11 stumping’s. The former Proteas Test captain has taken the third-most catches in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship- 47 catches and 1 stumping in 11 matches. Has a personal best of six dismissals in an innings, against England in Centurion in 2019.





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