5 cricketers who announced a sudden retirement

Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel was probably the most underrated bowler that South Africa have produced. What made Morkel so effective was his height with the help of which he could generate a steep bounce.

His career was marred with a lot of injuries, despite which, he went on to play 86 tests, taking 309 wickets at an average of just below 28. Morne Morkel was given a call to the Test team on the back of his six-wicket haul for the Titans as well as scoring a century and a half-century for them.

In a span of a few years, Morne had cemented himself as a mainstay of the bowling attack and the Proteas had brought together a bowling line-up of the most superior quality involving Morkel, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, and Kagiso Rabada.

Morkel abruptly announced his intention to retire from international cricket after the home series against Australia in March 2018. He stated the reason to retire was to spend more time with his family. He stands fourth among the highest wicket-takers for South Africa behind Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, and Allan Donald.