Chris Morris calls time on cricket career: "It's been a fun ride"

Morris will immediately move into coaching, having accepted a role with the Titans franchise in South Africa's domestic system

Chris Morris, the most expensive player in Indian Premier League auction history, has retired from all cricket.

The South African allrounder has called time on his playing career at the age of 34, having represented his country 69 times in total across three formats.

He will immediately move into coaching, having accepted a role with the Titans franchise in South Africa's domestic system.

^{Chris Morris has retired from all cricket (Clive Mason/Getty Images)}

Morris, who was signed by Rajasthan Royals for a record-breaking £1.68million in the IPL auction in the spring - making him the most costly acquisition in the competition's history - has struggled with injuries in recent years.

He made his last international appearance for the Proteas in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales, and missed parts of the 2020 and 2021 IPL for fitness reasons.

"Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket! Thanks to all who have played a part in my journey whether it be big or small it's been a fun ride," he wrote on his Instagram page.

^{Morris played in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder (Robert Ciafone/Getty Images)}

Morris became one of the most coveted T20 assets on the planet because of his ability to hit fast runs at the end of an innings, and his capacity to top 90mph with ball in hand.

He finishes his career with a short-form record of 290 wickets at an economy of 7.78, and 1,868 runs at a strike rate of 150.04.

The Pretoria native played in the county game in England with Hampshire and Surrey, in the Caribbean with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL, and with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.

Morris's final professional game came in South Africa in November, when he turned out for Titans against Boland in Paarl. He made 36 and went wicketless.