DAVID BALCOMBE RETIRES FROM FIRST-CLASS CRICKET David Balcombe, the Surrey and former Hampshire pace bowler, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect. Balcombe, 31, was due to start his eleventh season in county cricket but has now decided to retire to work full time for the Kevin Pietersen Foundation. London-born Balcombe made his debut for Durham UCCE against Somerset in 2005 and played three seasons of first-class cricket for the university before he made his County Championship bow for Hampshire against Kent at Southampton in September 2007. He played for Hampshire until 2014, including a successful spell on loan with Kent in 2011, before he joined Surrey for last season. ” To play professional cricket was a dream come true and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute,” Balcombe said. ” Hampshire gave me my first opportunity in the professional game and it is the club I will always hold close to my heart. ” I have made lifelong friends, experienced some wonderful career moments and it provided me with 10 seasons of immense enjoyment. ” One of my proudest moments was receiving my county cap in 2013 which is something I will always cherish. ” I will forever remain indebted to Kent for the tremendous support I received when I went on loan to them for a short time. They helped me immensely with my cricket and also as an individual. Every time I think of the St Lawrence Ground it will be with a huge smile. ” As a boy I had always dreamed of playing for Surrey, my home county. When, in 2015, I was given the chance to go back to where I began my cricket career it was too big an opportunity to turn down. ” I am very grateful to Surrey for all their support this year and for their help and understanding in my decision to retire. ” I would like to mention Graeme Fowler for the influential impact he had on my development during my time at Durham University. His belief in me helped me to develop the skills required to become a professional cricketer.” Balcombe also thanked the Professional Cricketers’ Association and his parents for their support and help. ” I would like to mention the PCA for their help and guidance throughout my time as a professional cricketer. In particular, their support was invaluable in helping me with my decision to retire. The process would have been significantly harder without them,” he said. ” My Personal Development work with the PCA has armed me with the ability to transfer from one career to the next and is something I really do not take lightly. ” I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to my parents for their constant support of my cricket growing up as well as through a professional career with plenty of ups and downs.” Balcombe made 67 first-class appearances in whicn he scored 958 runs, including three half centuries, and took 196 wickets. He took five wickets in an innings on nine occasions and twice took 10 wickets in a match. His best figures of eight for 71 were taken for Hampshire against Gloucestershire at Southampton in April 2012 and his three second innings wickets gave him a best match haul of 11 for 119. In one day cricket Balcombe took 18 wickets in 14 matches with one wicket in three Twenty20 appearances. {{ak_sharing}}
