Legendary Shaun Pollock hangs up the boots

The Proteas’ most successful fast bowler in history, the 34-year old will be seen in action one last time during the forthcoming five-match ODI series against the Chris Gayle-led team. The ongoing Test match at the Kingsmead is his illustrious career’s 108th and final.

"I'd like to thank Cricket South Africa for allowing me the opportunity of representing my country for the last 12 years. I thoroughly enjoy the honour and privilege of wearing the Protea badge and take with me some remarkable memories having played against some great players," Pollock was quoted as saying to South African media.

Although, heaps of fans were taken aback by the pronouncement, the cricketer himself had preplanned the announcement prior to the start of the Test match. "I made the decision at the start of the season that the West Indies series would be my last," he said.

Shaun Pollock said that the ‘time was right’ for him to hang up the boots, especially with the emergence of new strike bowler Dale Steyn and the strong bowling bench strength.

South Africa is comfortably placed in the Durban Test and looked well set after two days of play to wrap up the series 2-1 and give Shaun Pollock an ideal retreat souvenir.

Memorable career
The third-generation cricketer currently stands on 420 Test wickets, the most by a South African, and 387 in ODIs. ‘Polly’, as he affectionately called by his teammates, has the opportunity of becoming only the third bowler after Wasim Akram and Muttiah Muralidaran to claim 400 plus wickets in both Test and ODI cricket.

He took 4-35 in the West Indies' first innings to extend his lead as the Proteas' top wicket- taker. He is No. 8 on the all-time list, behind Sri Lanka's Mutthiah Muralidaran with 723. The disciplined bowler is still the most economical bowler in ODI cricket for bowlers who have taken more than 300 wickets.

Pollock's best figures are 7/87, while he has made 3,781 runs at an average of 32.31 with a top score of 111. He hit two centuries and 16 half-centuries in his tremendous career. His steady line and length bowling made him a dreadful customer for most batsmen in the world.

In 298 ODIs, he has taken 387 wickets at 24.54, and made 3,476 runs at 26.33. His highest score was 130, and his best bowling analysis is 6/35.

Pollock made his Test debut in 1995 against England in South Africa, taking 3/98 in a rain-affected match which had just one innings completed. His first wicket was Graeme Thorpe, who was caught behind for 13.

He rapidly grew into the role as an opening partner to strike bowler Allan Donald, and soon became a fixture in the South Africa team under captain Hansie Cronje.

Pollock was elevated to the captaincy in April 2000 when Cronje was banned from the sport for match-fixing. He had to inspire a saddened team lacking in motivation, and managed to turn it into a contender for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa after a 3-0 whitewash in Australia in 2001-02.

"I realise I have been blessed by God and feel I have nurtured my talents to the best of my abilities," after deciding to sign off from the sport he loves.