South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock announces Test retirement with immediate effect

In a shocking turn of events, South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has announced retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. 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.

He was one of the key players of the inexperienced Test side and will clearly be missed in the near future. De Kock scored 34 and 21 in the two innings of the Centurion Test against India which South Africa lost on Thursday (December 30) by 113 runs. Overall, the southpaw ends his Test career with 3300 in 54 matches (91 innings) at an average of 38.82 with six centuries and 22 half-centuries. He also led South Africa in a few Test matches.

CSA, in its tweet, has stated that Quinton de Kock has decided to spend more time with his growing family and for the same reason, he has brought curtains down on his Test career.

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

My family is everything to me, says De Kock

In the 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. 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,” the 29-year-old said in a statement.

Moreover, De Kock also confirmed that it is not the end of his career with South Africa and is fully committed to playing for the country in the white-ball formats.