Heinrich Klaasen retires from Test cricket

The 32-year-old announced his decision through a statement, biding adieu to his favourite format of the game.

“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 favourite format of the game,” he said in a statement. “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 represented South Africa in meagre four Test matches, scoring 104 runs only despite having an impressive first-class record.

He made his debut against India in 2019 and had to wait for more than three years before playing another Test match, making his comeback to red-ball cricket against West Indies last year.

However, he was dropped from South Africa’s squad for the recently concluded Test series against India in favour of Kyle Verreynne, but Test coach Shukri Conrad indicated his selection in the Test series against West Indies and Bangladesh

He will continue to represent South Africa in white-ball cricket and will be a major cog in their plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June.