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 'My Body Says I am 40,' Quinton de Kock's Emotional Comments Ahead Of Final Home ODI 

image-lmng8f59De Kock played his last ODI innings on home soil on Sunday (x.com)

Quinton de Kock got emotional while delivering a speech before taking field for the last time in a home ODI. The cricketer recently announced that he will be retiring from 50-overs internationals following the conclusion of next month’s 2023 World Cup in India.

In a bid to prepare for the quadrennial event, Quinton along with the rest of his South African teammates hosted Australia for a five-match ODI series. The dynamic southpaw notched up a match-winning 82 in Potchefstroom and another 45 in Centurion to bring Proteas to levelling terms with the visitors.

The South African stumper, at the age of just 30, stunned the cricketing fraternity with his sudden retirement announcement. Moments before taking field against Australia for his side’s series-decider in Johannesburg, de Kock revealed that his decision to retire was not an easy one and he only ended up doing so after much consideration.

'My body tells me I’m 40' - says 30-year-old de Kock

Quinton de Kock, when asked to explain behind his sudden exit, said:

“You know it's just the feeling I was getting, you know at the end of the test career I was fighting to play the Test matches. I played around 50 test matches I think, a lot of 5-day games, the heat, and the sub-continent conditions take a toll on you. I thought about it, I spoke to the people whom I trust, and they just said to me that if you think that, then you should do it, you should have no shame in saying that.”

The wicketkeeper-batsman also recalled some of his fondest memories while playing for South Africa.

“Here are a lot of memories, I think it's been 10 to 11 years with this team, my body says I am 40, but I make my mind say that I am 20. Playing against India scoring three hundreds, and India test matches, the Australian series, the Sri Lankan series, we have a lot of good memories.”


“I feel that these memories are still fresh for me. I think when I was younger it was easier, the guys used to tell me what to do guys like, ABD, and Amla used to tell me. Still, there are times to be aggressive and sometimes I need to take my time. We have got new players coming in, so I need to take the senior role with guys like Reeza, Klaasen, and Temba coming in. I never thought about what to do after the cricket, I will surely take a gap and re-asses.”

In the meantime, Quinton de Kock scored 29 in his farewell home ODI, and became South Africa’s second casualty of the day within the 12th over of the innings. Earlier, Temba Bavuma and co. were put into bat first by the visiting Australians, as both sides aim to seal the series 3-2.