Picture Credit: Twitter
Prolific South Africa batter Mignon du Preez has announced
retirement from international cricket on December 9 (Friday). The batter
notified about her decision in a statement released by Cricket South Africa but
confirmed that she would continue to participate in leagues around the world
until she chooses to start a family.
Notably, Preez had earlier retired from ODIs and Tests to focus on the shortest format of the game. After making her international debut in 2007, she featured in one Test where she scored 119 runs and 154 ODIs, finishing with 3760 runs.
The batter has played 114 T20I games, adding 1805
runs with the highest score of 69. The 31-year-old will continue to play T20
franchise leagues around the world and will be in action in the Hundred Women's
tournament and the Women's Big Bash League. She last played her T20
international in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year.
"Fifteen years of international cricket, wow, what a blessing it has been. It’s never an easy decision to step away from something you love as much as I love cricket, but I know in my heart that the time is right for me to announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket," she was quoted in released statement. De Preez further admitted that she will miss the change-room chats, the on-field friendships from around the globe, travelling and learning about different cultures.
"I am extremely excited about the next phase of my life
together with the ones that I love dearly and that have taken a back seat
during the last 15 years of my career," she concluded.