KABUL (SW): South Africa legendary batsman AB de Villiers has announced his shock retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old has been a titanic figure in the Proteas’ middle order for more than a decade and will go down as one of their greatest ever batsmen.
De Villiers starred in the recent Test series victory over Australia – and only last year recommitted to representing South Africa in all formats after taking a break from Test cricket – but admitted his efforts have left him fatigued.
He said in a video on his Twitter account: “I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect. After 114 Test matches, 228 ODI’s and 78 T20 Internationals, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired.
“This is a tough decision, I have thought long and hard about it and I’d like to retire while still playing decent cricket. After the fantastic series wins against India and Australia, now feels like the right time to step aside", the BBC quoted him as saying.
De Villiers made his international debut in the Test series against England in 2004 and played in a limited-overs match a year later.
He scored 8,765 Test runs for South Africa and has a batting average of over 50 in both Test and ODI cricket. He also holds the record for the fastest Test century by a South African, making 100 from 75 balls against India in 2011.
ENDS
