Nicky Boje, South Africa’s leading Test spin bowler, announced his retirement on Tuesday in a move that came on the day he was due to join the squad for the first Test against India starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
His sudden retirement came as a shock to selection convenor Haroon Lorgat and coach Mickey Arthur.
Lorgat said it was the first he had heard of the left-arm orthodox spinner’s decision. Arthur also said he had not been contacted by the player.
Boje (33) played in 43 Tests in which he took 100 wickets at an average of 42,65. A left-handed batsman, he also scored 1 312 runs at an average of 25,23.
He announced his retirement in a statement issued through the South African Cricketers’ Association.
He is believed to have conveyed his decision in a letter to Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola.
In his statement, Boje said: ”I have decided to retire from international cricket immediately and I am accordingly unavailable to form part of the Proteas squad for this season.
”I have had eleven years of international cricket and will always cherish wonderful memories of playing for South Africa.”
Boje said he would devote the rest of his playing career to the Eagles franchise.
After three first-class matches this season he is eighth in the national batting averages with 272 runs at 54,40 and sixth among the bowlers — and the leading spinner — with 17 wickets at 21,29.
Boje’s decision may have been prompted by the recall to the national squad of left-armed wrist spinner Paul Adams, but Lorgat said the media had misinterpreted Adams’s selection.
”The impression that Nicky was to play second fiddle to Paul is completely wrong.”
Lorgat said Adams had been included in a 15-man squad primarily to check on his progress and for him to be part of the national set-up for the first time since 2004.
”It was to send a signal to all our spin bowlers that we are searching for a quality spinner,” he said.
Lorgat said he would investigate Boje’s situation before discussing with his fellow selectors whether or not to name a replacement for the first Test.
Spin bowlers have played a minimal role in South African teams in recent years and Arthur acknowledged it was possible that, depending on conditions, the final eleven for the Wanderers might not have included a spinner.
He said the same could apply for the second Test in Durban but that a spinner would almost certainly be needed for the third and final Test in Cape Town from January 2.
Boje, who took 95 wickets and scored 1 410 runs in 113 one-day internationals, has not been picked for the South African one-day team since October 2005 and is unlikely to be selected for South Africa’s squad for the 2007 World Cup, especially as Cricket South Africa have set a target of seven black players in a 15-man party. — AFP
