Colin Ingram retires from professional cricket
After a celebrated career with Glamorgan, the South African will transition into a coaching role at the club
Former South Africa batter Colin Ingram has announced his retirement from cricket, nearly 13 years after his last international appearance.
The announcement came via social media, where Ingram revealed he is not “completely leaving the game”, and is set to commence his coaching career.
"My art is complete but I hope to influence the game positively and inspire players to be the best they can while enjoying their journeys,” the post said.
Ingram had a long, successful career at Glamorgan, playing 11 years in Wales, with the club confirming that the left-handed batter will now internally transition into a coaching role.
In 12 matches this season, the 41-year-old scored 628 runs at 31.40, hitting two centuries. Overall, Ingram played 159 first-class games, scoring 10683 runs in a 22-year career that began as a Free State rookie in 2004 and ended as a Glamorgan legend.
He initially signed up as a Kolpak player in 2015, but shifted to an overseas contract later after change in regulations.
Ingram also had a hugely successful T20 career: while he played only 15 IPL matches across two seasons for the Delhi Capitals, he featured prominently in the T20 Blast, PSL and BBL among others, also getting a taste of the SA20.
His South Africa career started off on a strong note with a century on ODI debut in 2010 against Zimbabwe, followed by another against Pakistan two games later. But over the next three years, he didn’t enjoy as much consistency as competition for top-order slots heightened. Another ton against Pakistan in 2013 remained the high point of his ODI career, which trailed off by the end of that year with three ducks in his last four innings.
He briefly featured in T20Is too, scoring 78 in a one-off T20I against India in 2012, which turned out to be the last of his nine appearances in the format. Even as his T20 career blossomed elsewhere, an SA call-up didn’t come again.
“Throughout my career I’ve dreamed big, worked hard, made memories, laughed and cried, seen things and places I never thought possible and met so many wonderful people along the way. I’ve had a full crack and left it all out there,” Ingram said in his post.
"While it’s the right time for me to step away from playing, I’m excited to continue contributing to the Club in a new way and help develop the players who will carry Glamorgan forward,” he was quoted as saying by the club.
