Source : Cricdb.com

Shaun Pollock 34, announced his retirement from all form of international cricket. The current Test match against Wesr Indies at his home Sahara Stadium Kingsmead ground will be his last for South Africa while he will retire from limited overs cricket after the completion of the Standard Bank International Pro20 series against the West Indies and the ODI series against the same opposition. His final match for South Africa will thus be the final ODI match at the Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, February 3.

He will then bring down the curtain on his international career by fulfilling his contract with the Indian Premier League in April and May.

Pollock has had a glittering international career during which he captained his country from 2000 to 2003 and led the team which won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1998. He was given captaincy when Hansie Cronje expel from captaincy in year April, 2000.

He retires as one of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen. To date he has taken 420 Test wickets which is the most by any South African bowler and makes him a member of the 400 club – there are only 10 members – of those who have taken more than 400 wickets.

He has also scored nearly 4 000 Test runs with two centuries and taken 72 catches. He holds the No 9 ranking on the current ICC Test bowling list and is the No 4 ranked all-rounder.

During his period of captaincy the South Africa briefly held the No 1 ranking in the world, the only time this honor has been taken away from Australia.

His ODI record is equally impressive and he is currently ranked both the No 1 bowler and the No 1 all-rounder in the world. He has scored nearly 3500 runs in this form of the game and taken 387 wickets.

He achieved one of his few outstanding landmarks when he scored his maiden ODI century in the most recent Afro-Asian series.

Announcing his retirement, Pollock said: “I’d like to thank Cricket SA for affording me the opportunity of representing my country for the past 12 years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the honor and privilege of wearing the Protea badge and I take with me some remarkable memories, having played with and against some great players. I realize I’ve been blessed by God and I feel I’ve nurtured my talents to the best of my ability. I would like to thank everyone involved in SA cricket – the players, spectators, administrators, support staff, sponsors and media for their part in making my career an unforgettable experience.

“Although this is my last Test and this will be my last ODI series, I don’t want my retirement to distract everyone from the focus of the Test.”

CEO Gerald Majola paid tribute on behalf of Cricket South Africa: “History will record the enormous role Shaun Pollock paid over the past decade in putting South African cricket on the world map.

“Not only was he one of the greatest all-rounders the game has known, but he was also a role model who personified all the best qualities of how the game should be played.

“Shaun Pollock will be sorely missed, and all cricket lovers are grateful to him for giving us so many wonderful moments through his talent and commitment to the ethos of cricket.”

AZ Khan, president of KZN Cricket Union commented: “We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Shaun for what he has meant to both South African and KZN cricket over a long period, both as a player and a role model.

“We wish him well in his future endeavours and will welcome him with open arms in any role he wishes to play in KZN cricket in the future.

“He is truly one of our greatest sons.”

 E-mail this article to a friend