De Kock retires from test cricket Cricket news

Quinton de Kock has announced he will end test cricket, another blow to South Africa’s fragile top six in the longest form of the game, resulting in the loss of several established international players over the past few years.

De Kock has mentioned his desire to spend more time with his family when his first child is born.

He played in the first test loss of the 113 series for India in Centurion Park, which ended on Thursday, and he always had to sit on paternity leave for the next two matches in the series.

However, the 29-year-old will be permanently absent from the tests in South Africa, although he will remain available in the white ball cricket.

“This is not a decision I have come to very easily,” De Kock said in a statement. “I have spent a lot of time thinking about what my future looks like and what needs to be a priority in my life now that (my wife) Sasha and I welcome our first child into this world and want to raise our family.

“My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be with them during this new and exciting chapter in our lives.

“I love test cricket and love to represent my country and everything related to it. I’ve enjoyed the ups and downs, the festivities and even the disappointments, but now I’ve found something I love even more.”

Wicketkeeper hit De Kock made 3,300 runs with an average of 38.82 in the tests six centuries after his debut in 2014. He also took 221 catches and 11 relegations.

“This is not the end of Protea’s career, I am fully committed to white ball cricket and representing my country to the best of my ability in the near future,” he said.

South Africa has also lost Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis to test their retirement over the past three years, all of which are the pillars of their top six.