South Africa's Morne Morkel to quit internationals

Proteas fast bowler, 33, says he will retire from all formats of international cricket after the four-match home Test series against Australia starting this week

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel, left, says he will retire from all forms of international cricket after the upcoming Test series against Australia. Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo

South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel will retire from all formats of international cricket after the four-match home Test series against Australia starting this week, he said on Monday.

Morkel, 33, cited family pressures following local media reports that he was set to take up a Kolpak contract to play in England.

"It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter. I have a young family and a foreign wife, and the current demanding international schedule has put a lot of strain us," Morkel said in a Cricket South Africa news release on Monday.

"I still feel there is a lot of cricket left in me and I am excited for what lies ahead. For now, all of my energy and focus is on helping the Proteas win the upcoming series against Australia."

Morkel will now be free to play in Twenty20 leagues around the world, although he went unsold in the recent auction for this year's Indian Premier League.

He played the first of his 83 Tests against India in 2006 and has taken 294 wickets at an average of 28.08.

The tall seamer has also featured in 117 one-day internationals and 44 Twenty20 Internationals, taking 529 wickets across the three formats of the game.

_________________

Read more on PSL 2018:

• Rumman Raees leads by example as Islamabad United swing back from defeat to beat Multan Sultans
• Talking points: Darren Sammy the darling, Shahid Afridi the danger
• Players to watch in action at PSL 2018 across UAE and Pakistan
• Lowdown on teams and their stars in action during PSL 2018

_________________