Monday 6 October 2014 14:52, UK
Former South Africa and Durham all-rounder Dale Benkenstein has announced his retirement from all cricket with immediate effect.
The 40-year-old played in 23 one-day internationals for the Proteas, but he was better known in England for his huge contribution to county cricket during his nine-year spell with Durham.
Benkenstein was a consistent performer for Natal in his homeland before signing for Durham ahead of the 2005 season, and he scored a then club-record 1,427 runs in his first domestic campaign in England.
He was appointed club captain the following year and skippered Durham to the Friends Provident Trophy title in 2007 before leading them to their historic maiden County Championship crown in 2008.
Benkenstein went on to score over 9,000 runs for Durham, becoming the county’s all-time leading run-scorer, and he was also named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2009.
He left the Riverside at the end of last season after being appointed as first-team coach at Hampshire, and he enjoyed a successful first year in the role.
Benkenstein oversaw Hampshire’s return to the top tier of the County Championship as Division Two champions, while the club also reached the finals day of the NatWest t20 Blast.
Although he didn’t appear as a player at any point last summer, Benkenstein’s success as a coach has prompted him to end any thought of adding to his 264 first-class appearances.
Benkenstein said in a statement: “I would like to thank my father for all the hours he spent teaching and coaching the game with me when I was younger and the many inspirational coaches that helped me mould my game; Graham Ford, Phil Russell, Geoff Cook, Bob Woolmer and my school coach at Michaelhouse, Andy Cook.
“I am fortunate to be with Hampshire and I am looking forward to the challenges that the first division will throw at us next year. It's been an amazing 21 years and I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life.”
