The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE fast bowler Kyle Jarvis has called time on his cricket career.
This comes after struggles with injuries and illness over the past 18 months.
During that period, he sustained a lower-back injury during Zimbabwe’s first Test match against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club in January last year.
Not long before returning, the Zimbabwean seamer suffered another major setback in January this year when he came down with illness that ruled him out of action for another six months.
Jarvis was diagnosed with Covid-19 and was struck by a bout of malaria and tick bite fever at the same time.
According to a statement released by Zimbabwe Cricket on Thursday, it was during this latest setback that Jarvis started contemplating retiring.
“It is a very difficult decision, having to retire, and it’s something that took me a long time to come to grips with.
“Nobody wants to stop doing the thing they love,” Jarvis is quoted as saying.
“After my back injury last year, there was a lot of uncertainty whether I would be able to bowl again.
“After six to eight months out, I was lucky enough to make a full recovery, but I knew I had to start planning for the future.”
Jarvis has had a decade-long career during which he featured in 13 Test and 49 One-Day Internationals.
During that time, he took 46 Test wickets and 58 in the ODIs.
He also played 22 Twenty20 matches, taking a total of 22 wickets.
In 2013, he temporarily quit international cricket to pursue a county contract with Lancashire in England.
After a successful stint in the county game, he would, however, return to the international arena in September of 2017.
“Every day wearing the Zimbabwe badge was a highlight, and I was very fortunate to be able to represent my country over a 10-year career.
“I will miss walking out onto the field in an international with a close group of friends.
“A special thank you to my friends, family, Zimbabwe Cricket and Lancashire County Cricket Club for all the support over the years.”
The son of former Zimbabwe international Malcolm Jarvis, the seamer is looking to get involved in the game in another capacity in the near future, but for now he wants to focus on a personal business venture.
“I have a business which is fairly new which needs my full attention for now, but I look forward to working with Zimbabwe Cricket in some capacity going forward.
“I certainly want to give back to the game which gave me so much.”
