AFP, South Africa :
South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock announced on Thursday his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect.
The shock announcement from De Kock, 29, came just hours after he was part of the South African team beaten by 113 runs in the first Test against India at SuperSport Park.
De Kock said he remained committed to playing international limited overs cricket.
Twice named as South African Cricketer of the Year, De Kock said in a statement that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
It had already been announced he would miss the second and third Tests against India because his wife, Sasha, is about to give birth to the couple’s first child.
De Kock was embroiled in controversy during the T20 World Cup in October when he refused an order from Cricket South Africa to take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter.
The order came shortly before a match against the West Indies and it was initially announced that De Kock had withdrawn from the match for personal reasons.
After a meeting with ricket South Africa officials, De Kock apologised and committed to the gesture for future matches although in making his apology he said he had felt his “rights were taken away” in the way the order was conveyed.
He made no mention of the incident in his retirement statement.
“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 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.
