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Cricket fans worldwide were left stunned as South African cricketing sensation Quinton de Kock declared his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the announcement coming just moments after he was named in Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled for October-November in India.
De Kock’s decision to retire from ODIs caught the cricketing fraternity by surprise, especially given his inclusion in the Proteas squad for the much-anticipated World Cup. The 30-year-old opening batter, who has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s limited-overs teams for several years, has had a decorated career in the 50-over format, amassing 5966 runs in 140 matches at an impressive average of 44.85, including 17 centuries and 29 half-centuries.
Clash with franchise cricket commitments
One factor that could have influenced De Kock’s decision is his commitment to the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia. This meant that he was likely to make himself unavailable for the home white-ball series against India, scheduled from December 10 to 21, due to a clash with the BBL, which runs from December 10 to January 5. It appears that the cricketer’s professional commitments in various leagues around the world may have contributed to his desire to step back from the international ODI circuit.
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Further, his absence from the recently-concluded T20I series against Australia, which South Africa lost 3-0, had raised some eyebrows. De Kock’s last notable appearance was in Major League Cricket (MLC) in July, where he played for the runners-up Seattle Orcas.
Words of praise from CSA’s Director of Cricket
Enoch Nkwe, the Director of Cricket for Cricket South Africa, praised De Kock’s contributions to the national team. While his decision may come as a shock to many fans, Nkwe expressed understanding and gratitude for the cricketer’s role for the Proteas.
“Quinton de Kock has been a really good servant to South African cricket. 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,” said Nkwe as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“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,” added Nkwe.
