After Dean Elgar, another South African star cricketer retires from Test cricket

South Africa’s Dean Elgar retired recently after the two-match India Test series at home.

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen has announced retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect on January 8, 2024. The 32-year-old featured in four Tests for the Proteas, the last of which came against West Indies in March last year.

Klaasen, who had an excellent ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 for South Africa, has a very good domestic record with an average of 46.09 from 85 matches. He was an understudy to Quinton de Kock for most of his red-ball career.

He is the second senior player to leave the format, following Dean Elgar, whose Test career ended with the New Year’s Test against India. Klaasen was not in that team after being replaced by Kyle Verreynne, although Test coach Shukri Conrad stated that Klaasen was still in his intentions.

Conrad stated in February of last year that he preferred Klaasen to Verreynne because Klaasen was a “better batter.” Klaasen scored 56 runs in four innings against the West Indies, including a top score of 20, while Verreynne finished third in last season’s first-class competition.

I have decided to retire from red-ball cricket: Heinrich Klaasen

No reason was provided for his retirement, but with commitments in the IPL, The Hundred, and MLC, Klaasen is likely pursuing T20 leagues in this phase of his career.

“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 favorite format of the game. 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,” Klaasen was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

South Africa will play nine more Tests in 2024 – two each in New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, two at home against Sri Lanka, and one against Pakistan, but will not play any home Tests between January 2025 and September 2026.

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