Lizelle Lee retires from international cricket

Lizelle Lee, the hard-hitting South African fly-half, has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. In a statement shared by CSA, she said she would continue to play T20 domestic cricket around the world.

“It is with great mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from international cricket,” Lee, 30, said on Friday. “From an early age, I lived cricket, and I wanted to represent my country at the highest level. Over the past 8 years, I have been able to live this dream, and I feel giving all I could to the Proteas.

“I feel I am ready for the next phase of my career and will continue to play domestic T20 cricket around the world.”

Lee’s announcement preceded the ODI series from South Africa to England starting next week. South Africa drew the single test before the white ball series, where Lee returned scores of 0 and 36.

She made her international debut against Bangladesh at home in 2013, and played exactly 100 ODIs – the last of which was against England in the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this year. She also played 82 T20Is in addition to two tests. Lee scored his best ODI score – an undefeated 132 – which was its third century in the format, against India in Lucknow last year when South Africa won the series 4-1.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and it wouldn’t have been possible without everyone who has supported me throughout my international career,” Lee said. “I want to thank my family, especially my wife Tanja for all the sacrifices they made to make my dream of representing my country come true.

“Thank you ASC, SACA and all stakeholders involved for the opportunities and support you have given me to fulfill my dreams of playing for the Proteas. My Proteas teammates, thank you for the wonderful memories that we created together. You created this incredible journey, and I couldn’t have done it without you, I will always support you, we will always rise together.

“Finally, to my fans, I am who I am thanks to the love and support you have given me throughout my international career. I look forward to continuing this journey with you across the various leagues. of the world.”

At the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020, Lee became the second from her country to score a century in the Women’s T20I [Shandre Fritz was the first], and the first to do so in the global event. She retired as the top points scorer among South African women in the T20I with 1896 racesand second in his country in terms of ODI with 3315 races.

“It is with great sadness that we must bid farewell to a titan of South African cricket at a comparatively young age,” said ASC Cricket Director Enoch Nkwe. “However, we wholeheartedly respect the individual’s decision and desire to move on to the next chapter of their playing career.

“Lizelle has given this nation countless memorable moments on the playing field, including in 2021 when she led the bat to be named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in a bid to help South Africa reach second place on the ICC ODI rankings.We wish her and her young family nothing but the best from now on.

Lee will play for Manchester Originals in The Hundred this season as his next assignment, having also represented them in the inaugural season in 2021.

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