Andre Nel retires from international cricket

New Delhi:

Andre Nel on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket after an outstanding career for both the Proteas Castle Test squad and Standard Bank ODI cricket in which he took more than 100 wickets in both forms of the game.

He made his ODI debut for the Proteas against the West Indies in 2001 and his Test match debu followed against Zimbabwe four months later. He played his last matches for the Proteas in the Test and ODI series in England last year.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from international cricket, commented Nel. Playing for my country for the last eight years was a dream come true for me. I would like to thank my captain, Graeme Smith, and my coaches, Mickey Arthur and Vinnie Barnes, and all my Proteas team mates for their support and guidance.

I have many happy memories and wish the Proteas the best for the future. I would also like to thank Cricket South Africa and Gerald Majola for the support I have been given.

To the fans who have supported me, you have made playing at the highest level something very special for me. I am sorry I did not have the chance to say farewell from the field.

Last, but not least, a special thanks to my two biggest mentors, Ray Jennings and Shaun Pollock. Without your advice and influence I would not have made it as far as I did, he concluded.

CSA CEO Gerald Majola said that Cricket South Africa had agreed that he could announce his retirement ahead of the culmination of his national contract next month. He has been a good servant to South African cricket and I wish him all the best, he added.

National coach Mickey Arthur paid tribute to Nel as a very passionate player who always gave 110 percent for his country .

I wish him all the best for the future.

Nel has signed to play for Surrey in the England county season.

Nel took 123 wickets in 36 Tests for South Africa at an average of 31.86. He took five wickets in an innings on three occasions and 10 wickets in a match once.

He played 79 ODIs, including the 2007 World Cup, and took 106 wickets at 27.68 with an economy rate of 4.63. He took five wickets in an innings once and four wickets in an innings three times. Currently he has 381 first-class wickets.