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5 Popular Players Who Retired After Boxing Day Test

The Boxing Day Test Match is of huge relevance in Test cricket. The game starts on Boxing Day (December 26th), a day after Christmas. Some of the finest red-ball games have been those that started on Boxing Day. However, there have been a few players who retired after the Boxing Day Test. In this article, we take a look at five popular players for whom the Boxing Day Test match was their final Test game.

1) MS Dhoni – 2014

Opposition: Australia || Venue: Melbourne

MS Dhoni is one of the most popular players who have retired after the Boxing Day Test match. Till then, India had a steady captain in the form of MS Dhoni across all formats. However, out of nowhere, MS Dhoni announced his Test retirement after the game.

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It was an emotional day for Indian Cricket. Team India was undergoing a transition and hence, MSD retiring did have its repercussions. Nevertheless, MSD was still part of Team India in the other formats. Virat Kohli took over as the captain after that encounter.

2) Jacques Kallis – 2013

Opposition: India || Venue: Kingsmead

Arguably one of the greatest all-rounders that the game has seen, Jacques Kallis is also a part of this list. Ahead of the series against India in 2013, Kallis announced that he would retire after the second game.

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In that Boxing Day encounter, the South African scored a hundred. Hence, he joined the rare list of rare players who scored a hundred in their final Test. A few months later, he also announced his retirement from the other formats.

3) Quinton de Kock – 2021

Opposition: India || Venue: SuperSport Park

Quinton de Kock is one of the popular players who retired after the Boxing Day Test match. In the Boxing Day match against India, South Africa had lost. While the team was prepping up for the next game, QDK announced his retirement from the format.

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It was shocking considering he is just 29 years old. QDK also did not have major injury issues. The wicket-keeper batsman specified that he wants to spend more time with his family and hence, took the hard decision of retiring from Tests. However, he confirmed that he will continue playing in T20I and ODI for South Africa.

4) Brett Lee – 2008

Opposition: South Africa || Venue: Melbourne

Although it is after two months that he made the decision official, Brett Lee retired after the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2008. It was a game in which he failed to pick a wicket.

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Injuries were an issue in the latter part of Lee’s career. The right-arm pacer had a stunning career for the Aussies. In 76 games, he collected 310 wickets at an average of 30.82. He also has five fifties in his account. Incidentally, Lee also made his debut in a Boxing Day Test match.

5) Ashwell Prince – 2011

Opposition: Sri Lanka || Venue: Kingsmead

Ashwell Prince was a fine servant of South African cricket. He represented 66 times for the Rainbow Nation in Tests. In that, he scored 3665 runs at an average of 41.65. His record included eleven centuries and eleven fifties.

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The southpaw was also at the helm of affairs for a few games. He was the captain of the Test Team in two encounters, and unfortunately, the Proteas lost both those games. Although he was active in the game a few years after 2011, the Boxing Day Test in that year marked his end in Test cricket.

Nesara V Jagannatha

Books, Movies & Sports! A cricket aficionado...

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