Yet another South African star retires from Test Cricket with immediate effect
South Africa Cricket (Source-Twitter)
It seems the trouble doesn’t seem to end for South African cricket. After Dean Elgar, yet another South African star has decided to quit Test Cricket. It has been a difficult few days for the Proteas side.
Dean Elgar saw his final Test match go down in infamy as the home team lost the game in just 107 overs. India won the game just before lunch on day two to become the first Asian team to win Cape Town.
Mohammed Siraj’s 6/15 had bowled out South Africa from just 55 runs in the first innings. Just a week ago, the South African selectors had selected a second-string team for the New Zealand tour.
Yet another South African player quits Test Cricket –
It was a shocking Monday for South Africans as news came that Heinrich Klaasen had decided to quit Test Cricket. The 32-year-old became the second player after Dean Elgar to quit Test Cricket in recent times.
Heinrich Klaasen released a statement which read, “After a few sleepless nights wondering if I am making the right decision, I have decided to retire from red-ball cricket. It’s a difficult decision that I have made because it is by far my favourite format of the game”
The statement further read, “The battles that I faced on and off the field have made me the cricketer I am today. It has been a great journey and I am glad I could have represented my country. My baggy Test cap is the most precious cap I have ever been handed.”
The wicket-keeper has played four Test Matches to date and scored 104 runs with a best of 35. His Test debut came against India in Ranchi towards the end of 2019 scoring 11 runs in the game.
It is believed that the move to retire from Test Cricket is to concentrate on the white-ball format. Klaasen will be next seen playing in the SA 20 League which is set to begin soon. The 32-year-old will then be seen playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad unit during IPL 2024.
The biggest challenge for Klaasen and South Africa will come in June this year during the T20 World Cup. South Africa is in the same group as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Netherlands.
