South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from “red-ball cricket” with immediate effect.
Cricket South Africa said on Monday that at the same time, he affirmed his support for Test match cricket as the ultimate form of the game.
But, in explaining his decision, Steyn said that he had to make the decision that was in the best interests of prolonging his career.
CSA said he continues to be a nationally contracted player for the 2019/2020 season in white-ball cricket and therefore remains available for the Standard Bank Proteas in both One-Day International and T20 International cricket.
“Today I walk away from a format of the game I love so much. In my opinion Test cricket is the best version of this game. It tests you mentally, physically, emotionally,” Steyn said.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive Thabang Moroe led the tributes to South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker of all time and one of the top 10 in the history of the game.
“Dale is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats of cricket. More than that he has been a wonderful mentor to our next generation of speedsters,” he said.
“We were saddened to hear of his decision, but it is one that management has to accept, and we thank him for his significant contribution to the sport and to the nation and wish him everything of the very best for the future,” Moroe said.
