Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket.
His statement came on instagram.
“It has been a year of refinement in the fire for us all. Uncertain were the times but they brought clarity in many respects. My heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter. It has been an honour to play for my country in all formats of the game, but the time has come for me to retire from Test cricket,” said Faf.
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A top-order batsman of great tenacity and determination, he will be remembered as one of the country’s best captains with an impressive record of 10 centuries, 21 half-centuries and 4 163 runs at an average of 40.02.
Du Plessis announced himself unequivocally in the format when he scored 78 and 110 not-out on debut against Australia, becoming and remaining the only South African to have scored a half-century and century on Test debut. His match-saving 110* in the fourth innings of that match also remains the longest a South African has batted in the fourth innings of a Test match, at 466 minutes.
The Pretoria-born right-hander, who 12 months ago relinquished the captaincy of the Proteas, produced one of his finest innings for South Africa as recently as seven weeks ago when he scored 199 for the Proteas in their first Test match of the summer against Sri Lanka at his home ground in Centurion.
“Faf has been a prolific Test cricketer for the Proteas for a number of years now and to lose him in this format is going to leave another big gap in the team,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, commented.
“His commitment to the team has always been undoubtable and his transparency with Cricket South Africa about his plans has always been appreciated and we respect his decision, knowing he would not have come by it easily.
“I would like to thank Faf on behalf of CSA for his years of service and dedication to the Proteas’ Test team and we look forward to engaging further with him on how he can continue contributing to the team in a meaningful way,” Smith concluded.
