South Africa wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. Klaasen will continue to represent South Africa in white-ball formats.
Klaasen was a part of four Test matches between 2019 and 2023, the most recent coming against West Indies.
He is the second player to quit the longest format after Dean Elgar ended his career after the Cape Town Test against India. Klaasen was not considered for the recently concluded series, but Test head coach Shukri Conrad said Klaasen was still in the reckoning.
Klaasen accumulated 56 runs in four innings against West Indies. Conrad preferred Verreynne over Klaasen against India but said that Heinrich would play Tests later this year against West Indies and Bangladesh.
Klaasen hasn’t given his reason behind his retirement decision, but he seems to be looking forward to playing the full season of the Indian Premier League, The Hundred and the Major League Cricket.
“After a few sleepless nights, I have decided to retire from Test cricket. It was a difficult decision as red-ball cricket is my favourite format. It was a great journey and I am lucky to represent South Africa in Test cricket. My Baggy Test cap is the most precious cap for me,” Heinrich Klaasen said in a statement.
South Africa will play seven more Tests in 2024 , with two each coming against West Indies and Bangladesh. They will take on Sri Lanka in the two-Test series at home. The remaining one will be against Pakistan.
Proteas wicketkeeper batter Heinrich Klaasen has today announced his retirement from Test cricket. Don’t miss to click on link.
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