Family is everything: De Kock retires from Test cricket with immediate effect

South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock on Thursday announced his retirement from Test cricket “with immediate effect”, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. 

The announcement comes immidiately after the conclusion of the first Test against India, with the visitors becoming the first Asian side to win in Centurion in the format after a 113-run victory. The 29-year-old was to miss the second and third Test matches against India due to paternity leave, but decided to call time on his career in the longest format. 

“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily,” de Kock said in a statement released by Cricket South Africa.

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“I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what needs 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.”

De Kock said that he wanted to “do right by the people that mean the most”.  

He also confirmed he will remain “fully committed to white ball cricket and representing my country to the best of my ability for the foreseeable future” as a Protea.

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De Kock made his Test debut against Australia in Gqeberha in 2014. He has played 54 matches, scoring 3,300 runs at an average of 38.82. He has notched six centuries and 22 half centuries in that period. 

De Kock has also been a distinguished wicketkeeper for the Proteas, affecting 232 dismissals – including 221 catches and 11 stumpings. 

He has led South Africa in four Test matches after taking over as temporary captain at the start of 2021, beating Sri Lanka 2-0 and losing to Pakistan by the same margin.