South African talisman AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on Wednesday, saying he was tired and wanted to step out while still at the top.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 114 test matches, 228 one day internationals and 78 T20 internationals it is time for others to take over. I\u2019ve had my turn and to be honest I\u2019m tired,\u201d he said in a video message on Twitter and in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a tough decision, I have thought long and hard about it and I\u2019d like to retire while still playing decent cricket. After the fantastic (test) series wins against India and Australia, now feels like the right time to step aside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old, whose swashbuckling batting style and razor sharp fielding has made him one of the sport\u2019s leading lights, only returned to test cricket in December after a lengthy hiatus where he focused on the limited overs formats of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about earning more somewhere else, it\u2019s about running out of gas and feeling that it is the right time to move on,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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 (captain) Faf du Plessis and the Proteas.\u201d<\/p>\n
De Villiers retires with a test average of 50.66 and as the fourth-highest scorer for South Africa with 8,765 runs. He made 22 test centuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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