De Villiers retires from international cricket

South Africa master batsman AB de Villiers has called time on his international cricket career, informed Cricket South Africa (CSA) moments ago on Twitter and on their official website.

De Villiers has played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is since making his international debut in a Test against England in Port Elizabeth in December 2004. Over the last 13-plus years, the 34-year-old has scored 8,765 Test runs at an average of 50.66 with 22 hundreds, 9,577 runs at an average of 53.5 and 25 hundreds in ODIs and 1672 runs at a strike rate of 135.16 in T20Is. He is widely considered to be one of the great batsmen of the modern era in all three formats. 

"I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect," he said on Wednesday. "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. 

"It would not be right for me to pick and choose where, when and in what format I play for the Proteas. For me, in the green and gold, it must be everything or nothing. I will always be grateful to the coaches and staff of Cricket South Africa for their support through all these years. The most important thank you goes out to all of my team mates throughout my career, I wouldn't be half the player that I am without the support throughout the years.

" It's not about earning more somewhere else, it's about running out of gas and feeling that it is the right time to move on. Everything comes to an end. To the cricket fans around South Africa and the World, thank you for your kindness and generosity, and today, for your understanding. 

" I have no plans to play overseas, in fact, I hope I can continue to be available for the Titans in domestic cricket. I will continue to be the biggest supporter of Faf du Plessis and the Proteas." 

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