South African Cricketer Faf du Plessis announces retirement from Test cricket

Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket. He played 69 Tests for South Africa scoring 4163 runs at 40.02, including 10 centuries.

“My heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter,” the former South Africa captain wrote in a post on Instagram.

It has been a year of refinement in the fire for us all. Uncertain were the times, but they brought clarity for me 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 the formats of the game, but the time has come for me to retire from Test cricket.

If someone had told me 15 years ogo. that I would ploy 69 Test matches for South Africa and captain the side, I wouldn’t have believed them. I stand in a place of utmost gratitude for a test career full of blessings bestowed on me. Every high and low has shaped me into the mon I am proud to stand as today. In all things, those instances worked towards the good of who I believe I am today.

The next two years are ICC T20 World cup years. Because of this, my focus is shifting to this format and 1 wont to play as much of it as possible around the world so that I can be the best player I can possibly be. I strongly believe that I have a lot to offer to the Prelims in this format. This does not mean that ODI cricket Is no longer In the plans, I’m Just making T20 cricket the priority In the short-term.

I will be in conversation with CSA over the next couple of months on what the future might look like for me over the next year to find o solution that works for both of us.

For now, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who had on influence on my Test career. I would like to single out my wife and family in particular – I would not have been able to do without their support during the unforgettable journey that Test cricket has token me on. To my coaches, teammates and support staff over the years. I would also like to give a note of thanks and of course, to Cricket South Africa for the opportunity to be able to represent and lead my country in the pinnacle of the game we all love. It has been on incredible journey, with many stories that I look forward to one day sharing.

 

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A post shared by Faf du plessis (@fafdup)

Du Plessis took good form into the 2015 World Cup, after becoming the second South African to score a T20I century after Richard Levi, in February that year. He was among those left devastated by South Africa’s semi-final loss.

Du Plessis led South Africa in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, and despite them returning empty-handed from both, he confirmed his desire to keep the captaincy.