The former South Africa international has called time on his career midway through a Big Bash campaign during which his side, Hobart Hurricanes, have led the way at the top of the table
Johan Botha has announced his surprise retirement from cricket with immediate effect.
The former South Africa international, 36, has called time on his career midway through a Big Bash campaign during which his side, Hobart Hurricanes, have led the way at the top of the table.
He gave the physical strain of a long career as a reason behind the decision.
"It was tough (to make the decision)," he said. "You never want it to end really, but it's got to come to an end somewhere. The thinking was, the gaps between seasons had got really long for me.
Johan Botha has retired from cricket
"Coming into this season I had only played one game for Adelaide Uni (in South Australia Premier Cricket), picked up an injury, just made it to the first game here (in the BBL) and the first three or four games was a struggle to get into.
"I just feel that the position the team is in at the moment, the cricket we're playing, the group itself, I just think it's a good time to open that No.8 spot up," Botha said.
"Especially with four games to go to the play-offs. Not just wait until then and hang on and hang on and wait until that game and then you think, 'oh this is too much now'. I think it's better just to move aside and let the next player come in."
Botha appeared in five Tests, 78 ODIs and 40 T20Is for South Africa across eight years. He captained his country 21 times in white-ball cricket.
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