Former South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket and has revealed his intention to focus on Twenty20s with a view to the upcoming World Cups.
Du Plessis, 36, made the announcement via social media, writing that "my heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter" after 69 Tests for the Proteas.
The right-handed batsman had made 199 for South Africa against Sri Lanka less than two months ago but pressure had been mounting on his place in the Test side in recent years and that was not helped by a lean recent tour of Pakistan.
"It has been a year of refinement in the fire for us all," Du Plessis wrote. "Uncertain were the times, but they brought clarity for me in many respects.
"My heart is clear and the time is right to walk into a new chapter. It has been an honour to play for my country in all the formats of the game, but the time has come for me to retire from Test cricket.
"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."
Du Plessis, who captained the Proteas at Test level from 2016 to early 2020, finishes his international red-ball career with 4,163 runs at an average of 40.02 with 10 centuries. His 199 against Sri Lanka in December will finish as his highest Test score.
The Pretoria-born batsman added that he intends to continue playing internationally in the shortest format, with T20 World Cups coming up in October-November in India and next year during the same period in Australia.
Du Plessis played all three T20 internationals against England in November and December, making two half-centuries in the series defeat.
He also played for the Chennai Super Kings during the 2020 Indian Premier League, finishing the season as the side's top scorer with 449 runs at 40.81 with a strike rate above 140.
"The next two years are ICC T20 World Cup years," Du Plessis added. "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'm just making T20 cricket the priority in the short-term.
"I will be in conversation with CSA over the next couple of months on what the future might look like for me over the next year to find a solution that works for both of us."