South Africa all-rounder Robbie Frylinck announces retirement from cricket

South African all-rounder Robbie Frylinck, on Tuesday (March 30) brought down curtains on his cricket career. With the decision, Frylinck has ended his 17-year association with professional cricket. Frylinck did not enjoy a good stint in international cricket as he could play only three T20Is but made a big impression in South Africa’s domestic circuit.

He made his debut in professional cricket in 2004 when he played for KwaZulu-Natal against Easterns during a List A game. He soon established himself as one of the best domestic all-rounders in the African country. He played a total of 137 List A games and scored 1,971 runs with the help of 8 fifties. With the ball, he picked up 168 wickets at an average of less than 30.

In 2005, he made his first-class debut against Western Province. The 36-year old has finished his career with 75 first-class matches to his name. He scored 2,428 runs with the help of one century and 13 fifties in addition to picking up 228 wickets in red-ball cricket. Frylinck also played 148 T20 games and scored more than 1300 runs while picking up 162 wickets.

Frylinck played for KwaZulu-Natal until 2008 before he moved to the Highveld Lions. He then moved back to the Dolphins in 2011. His performance in the domestic circuit earned him comparisons with South African legend Lance Klusener. Frylinck also enjoyed club cricket in England. In 2007 he played in one match for Nelson Cricket Club in the Lancashire League and in 16 matches for Vauxhall Mallards in the East Anglian Premier Cricket League.

My playing days have come to an end: Robbie Frylinck

In the following year, he played for Surrey’s second team in the Second Eleven Championship. After impressing for the second team, he made his first team debut for Surrey in August 2008 against Northants Steelbacks in the Pro40 league. Frylinck also got a contract from IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2011 but did not feature in the tournament before being released.

He also played in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2017 where he plied his trade for Khulna Tigers. Before that, he made his international debut in the same year. He made his debut against Bangladesh in October 2017 while his third and last appearance for South Africa came against Zimbabwe in October 2018. Frylinck picked up 5 wickets in 3 T20Is.

The 36-year old took to Twitter to announce his decision of retiring from cricket, writing, “No sportsman wants ever wants that time to come in their careers, but mine has snuck up on me and arrived. With a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, I have to announce that my playing days have come to an end. I am officially retiring from a game that has given me 17 years as a professional, as well as a lifetime of memories and experiences.

“My teammates at the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, I don’t where to begin. I have had the pleasure of playing with some of you for a very long time, as well as watch some of the younger guys grow into fine cricketers. I’m definitely going to miss you guys. We have become a family and you guys hold a special place in my heart,” he added.