Gary Ballance announces retirement from all forms of cricket | Cricbuzz.com

Gary Ballance played 23 Tests for England and one Test for Zimbabwe

Former England batter Gary Ballance has announced his retirement rom all forms of cricket. The 33-year-old had returned to the country of his birth – Zimbabwe – and signed a two-year deal after being released by Yorkshire. He featured in one Test, one T20I and five ODIs for them.

Ballance quits the game with five Test hundreds to his name, with the latest one (137 not out) coming in the only Test he featured in for Zimbabwe.

“After much thought, I have decided to retire from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect,” Ballance said in a statement issued by the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

The left-hander thanked Zimbabwe for giving him the chance to continue playing at the highest level but revelead that he no longer had the desire to carry on in professional sport.

“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.

“However, I have reached the stage where I no longer have the desire to dedicate myself to the rigours of professional sport and it would do Zimbabwe Cricket and the game itself a disservice, should I carry on. I wish them every success going forward,” Ballance added.

Ballance played 23 Tests for England after making his debut in 2014, and scored 1498 runs for them – including four centuries and seven fifties. He also won the County Championship with Yorkshire in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Last December, Yorkshire announced that Ballance had requested to be released after he was in the midst of the controversy where he admitted to using racist language against club teammate Azim Rafiq.