xtratime Logo

Xtra Time Web Desk: Ace South African cricketer Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from test cricket on Wednesday. The 36 year old Du Plessis shared his decision on his social media platform instgram. He wrote, "My heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter."

"If someone had told me 15 years ago that I would play 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."

"If someone had told me 15 years ago that I would play 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."

Since making his test debut against Australia in Adelaide in 2012, Du Plessis represented Proteas in 69 tests. He took over Test captaincy from AB de Villiers in 2016, and led the side in 36 matches before relinquishing leadership last January after a home series defeat to England. Du Plessis amassed 4163 runs in the longest format at an average of 40.02, including 10 centuries and 21 fifties.

With two T20 World Cups coming up, the veteran cricketer has decided to make the shortest format his priority for now. "The next two years are ICC T20 World Cup years. Because of this, my focus is shifting to this format and I want 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 Proteas in this format. This does not mean that ODI cricket is no longer in the plans. I am just making T20 cricket the priority in the short-term," he wrote.