South Africa legend AB de Villiers announces retirement from international cricket
AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old, who scored over 20,000 runs in all formats for South Africa, said he was tired and that it was time to move on in a sudden post uploaded to social media.
He said: Ive decided to retire from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect.
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After 114 Test matches, 228 one-day internationals and 78 Twenty20 internationals, its time for others to take over. Ive had my turn and to be honest, Im tired.
This is a tough decision, Ive thought long and hard about it – I want to retire while Im still playing decent cricket.
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After the fantastic series wins against India and Australia, now feels like the right time to step aside.
I will always be grateful to my teammates, the coaches and Cricket South Africa for their support.
Its not about earning more somewhere else, its about running out of gas. Everything comes to an end.
To cricket fans in South Africa and around the world, thank you very much for your kindness, generosity and today, for your understanding.
I will remain the biggest fan of Faf du Plessis and the Proteas. Thank you.
A player who broke records at will in schoolboy cricket, De Villiers played his first game for South Africa in the winter of 2004, just a year after making his first-class debut.
He quickly developed into a key player for the Proteas in all formats and retires with an average of over 50 in both Tests and ODIs.
In 2015, De Villiers scored the fastest ever ODI century off 31 balls against West Indies.
Earlier this year, in his final Test series against Australia, he scored one century and four fifties in eight innings to help South Africa clinch a stunning victory.
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