Symcox calls it quits

However, he would continue to play at provincial level for Griqualand West.

Symcox, who is here as a television commentator at the Supersport Series final between Border and Western Province, faces a United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.

While en route to South Africa from New Zealand last week, where he played in the first three One-Day Internationals on South Africa’s current tour, Symcox is alleged to have caused disturbance which involved other passengers and airline staff.

He did not list the incident as a reason for his retirement, but said he “apologised to anyone I may have offended” during theflight.

On Sunday, Symcox was included in South Africa’s squad of 19 — which is to be trimmed to 15 — for the World Cup in England starting in May.

Symcox played 20 Test matches, scoring 741 runs at an average of 28.50 with one century and taking 37 wickets at 43.32.

In 80 ODIs, he scored 694 runs at 16.92 and took 72 wickets at 38.36.

South African coach Bob Woolmer reacted with surprise and disappointment to the news.

“It came out of the blue and was a complete surprise to me and the rest of the squad,” he said in Christchurch ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.

“It’s disappointing because he was in our provisional squad of 19 for the World Cup and there is every chance that he would have been selected in the final 15. My last words to him were stay fit, keep in shape because the World Cup is just around the corner.

“He is a great character, a great competitor and he’ll be missed both on and off the field.”