Former England Test batter Gary Ballance has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, just three months after resuming his international career with Zimbabwe.
The 33-year-old played 23 Tests and 16 ODIs for England but last featured for the team in 2017 as he battled loss of form and struggles with mental health. He scored 1498 Test runs including four hundreds and seven half-centuries.
He was also caught up in the Yorkshire racism scandal, apologising last year to Pakistan-born Azeem Rafiq for “racist” language he had used towards his former teammate at the county club.
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Ballance left Yorkshire last year and signed a two-year deal with his native country, but his return to top-flight cricket was brief, quitting with immediately effect this week.
The left-hander scored an unbeaten 137 in his only Test appearance for Zimbabwe in February — adding to the four Test hundreds made with England — and also featured in five ODIs and one T20I for the African nation.
He became just the second cricketer to make a Test century for two countries, joining Kepler Wessels on the illustrious list.
Despite his recent success, Ballance said the time was right to retire.
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“After much thought, I have decided to retire from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect,” he said in a statement issued via the Professional Cricketers’ Association.
“I had hoped my move to Zimbabwe would provide me with a new-found happiness for the game and I will always be thankful to Zimbabwe Cricket for providing me with an opportunity to return to international cricket and welcoming me into their team.
“However, I have reached the stage where I no longer have the desire to dedicate myself to the rigours of professional sport and this would do Zimbabwe Cricket and the game itself a disservice, should I carry on. I wish them every success going forward.
“I have been fortunate to have some incredibly memorable moments in cricket, winning County Championships with Yorkshire and gaining the ultimate honour of representing England and Zimbabwe.
“I want to thank all of my clubs, coaches, support staff, teammates and supporters for their guidance and encouragement over my career, it has been a privilege.
“It is now time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life.
“I will be making no further comments on my decision at this time.”
Ballance was part of the Yorkshire teams that won the County Championship in 2014 and 2015.
He also bows out with a stellar first-class record, scoring over 12,031 runs at 47.74, including 42 centuries. He also made 4697 List A runs, with eight centuries, and 1952 in T20 cricket.
— with AFP