Photo Credit: Titans Cricket
Titans and SA Deaf Cricketer Gerard Kroese (29) has called time on his playing career which lasted a decade.
Kroese joined the Titans Deaf Cricket team in 2014 and made his debut for the SA Deaf Cricket team in 2016 against India. He was part of the Titans team that won the 2018 Interprovincial Deaf Cricket Tournament. Kroese also represented South Africa at both the 2016 50-over World Cup and the 2018 T20 cricket world cup.
One the field Kroese was a revered batting all-rounder with the ability to remain calm during the tough moments. His hard work and his dedication to cricket were highlighted by him winning the SA deaf cricketer of the Year award in 2016, along with being Titans Deaf Cricketer of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
Head coach of the Titans Deaf Cricket Team, Sello Sebola “He was one of the team’s greatest all-around players, and he always prioritized the team and led by example. We will remember him for always pushing the players to perform at their best.”
“I wish him and his family the very best on their new life’s adventure. I hope he continues to support the squad and that we’ll see him cheering us on from the other side of the boundary”.
On his retirement Kroese said he was grateful for “The platform that Deaf Cricket South Africa and Titans Deaf Cricket have created for players with hearing disabilities to play cricket at the highest possible level. Cricket has taught me many lessons-the most important is to remain humble in victory and defeat”.
CEO of Titans Cricket, Dr Jacques Faul had a few words to share on Kroese’s retirement, “Seeing young, talented players leave the game at such a young age is always a sad moment. It’s encouraging to see how much Kroese has accomplished in the past ten years, he is a terrific player. We send him our best wishes and may he continue to leave an impact where he goes.”
Kroese plans for retirement are to spend time with his wife after 10 years of dedicating most of his weekends to the cricket field and “To cheer for the Titans deaf and the Deaf Cricket South Africa team”.
Titans Cricket will miss seeing Kroese in the Sky-Blue kit. The Titans cricket family wishes Kroese the best in all his future endeavours and success in his next chapter.
