Zimbabwe's Gary Ballance Calls Time on Cricket Career After Switching Nationalities
Gary Ballance scored a stunning century in his solitary Test appearance for Zimbabwe (Source: Twitter)
In a stunning announcement, Zimbabwean cricketer Gary Ballance has officially retired from all forms of professional cricket, bringing an end to his illustrious career. The left-handed batter, who played for England before switching nationalities, cited lack of desire as the reason for his decision.
Ballance, who played 23 Test matches for England between 2014 and 2017, was a prolific scorer in the longest format of the game. He amassed 1498 runs at an impressive average of 37.45, becoming the third-fastest Englishman to reach 1000 Test runs. However, he was dropped from the national side in 2017 after a dip in form. He also featured for England in 16 ODIs.
Last year, the former Yorkshire player announced his intention to play for Zimbabwe, the country of his birth, after a long absence from the game. He made an instant impression on his debut for Zimbabwe, scoring an unbeaten 137 in his first and only Test appearance for the country, thus adding to the four tons that he notched with England. Ballance also featured in five ODIs and one T20.
Despite his impressive performances, Ballance has decided to hang up his boots.
In a statement issued through the Professional Cricketers' Association, he expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his career and stated that he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.
"After much thought, I have decided to retire from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect,”
He expressed his gratitude towards Zimbabwe Cricket for giving him the chance to return to international cricket and welcomed him into their team.
“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,”
The Zimbabwean born further added that he has come to a point where he no longer feels motivated to continue dedicating himself to the challenging demands of professional sports.
"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."
It is worth mentioning that Ballance moved to Zimbabwe after he was released from his contract with Yorkshire, the county where he spent the majority of his career.
He requested a fresh start to his career following the club's racism scandal, which he was heavily implicated in. The left-hander was one of seven Yorkshire players and staff charged by the cricket discipline commission in relation to the racism case.
Ballance's retirement from the sport has certainly left a void in the cricketing world. His incredible career, which saw him switch nationalities and play for both England and Zimbabwe, will be remembered for his exceptional batting skills and his ability to adapt to different conditions.
As he begins a new chapter in his life, Ballance can look back on his achievements with pride, knowing that he has left an indelible mark on the sport.
 "Jatin")
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