Former England batter Gary Ballance has retired from cricket, saying he “no longer has the desire to dedicate himself” to professional sport.<\/span><\/p>\n The 33-year-old played 40 times for England, including 23 Tests between 2014 and 2017, and later six times for Zimbabwe – the country of his birth.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He <\/span>signed a two-year deal with Zimbabwe in December<\/span><\/a> after being <\/span>released by Yorkshire amid the racism scandal.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n “It is now time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n “I had hoped my move to Zimbabwe would provide me with a new-found happiness for the game and I will always be thankful to Zimbabwe Cricket for providing me with an opportunity to return to international cricket and welcoming me into their team. <\/span><\/p>\n “However, I have reached the stage where I no longer have the desire to dedicate myself to the rigours of professional sport and this would do Zimbabwe Cricket and the game itself a disservice, should I carry on. I wish them every success going forward.”<\/span><\/p>\n In November 2021, Ballance admitted using racist language towards his former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq.<\/span><\/p>\n Ballance apologised to Rafiq<\/span><\/a> and accepted a charge of bringing the game into disrepute by the England and Wales Cricket Board.<\/span><\/p>\n In February he became the <\/span>second person to hit a Test century for two countries<\/span><\/a> after making 137 not out for Zimbabwe against West Indies.<\/span><\/p>\n He scored 157 runs in five ODIs at an average of 39.25 for Zimbabwe earlier this year – his last international appearance coming in March.<\/span><\/p>\n The left-hander played for Yorkshire between 2008 and 2022, winning the County Championship in 2014 and 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2020 he <\/span>took a break from cricket<\/span><\/a> to manage “some heightened feelings of anxiety and stress” and <\/span>missed much of the 2022 season<\/span><\/a> to focus on his mental health after admitting he was responsible for some of the allegations made by Rafiq.<\/span><\/p>\n Ballance scored 1,019 runs in his first 10 Tests, making him the ninth-fastest man to reach 1,000 Test runs, but faded afterwards and played his last match for England in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n “I have been fortunate to have some incredibly memorable moments in cricket, winning County Championships with Yorkshire and gaining the ultimate honour of representing England and Zimbabwe,” Ballance said.<\/span><\/p>\n “I want to thank all of my clubs, coaches, support staff, team-mates and supporters for their guidance and encouragement over my career, it has been a privilege.”<\/span><\/p>\n
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