South Africa's opener, Alviro Petersen, announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect after the match against West Indies. He also revealed that he will retire from international cricket with effect from April 1, 2015.
"I feel that at 34, it is time for me to retire from international cricket and to move on with my career. I intend playing County and Franchise cricket for the next three years and also concentrating on my Foundation and my cricket school," said Petersen.
"It has been an honour to represent my country and to be part of a South African Test team that is ranked number one in the world. I want to thank Cricket South Africa, my team mates, sponsors and cricket fans for all the support and memories over the years. I will miss Proteas' amazing team culture that we have built, International cricket, and especially, my team mates but it is time to move on. I wish South African cricket and the Proteas all the best for the future, especially for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australasia," he added.
Petersen fell for a duck in his final innings but was a steady member of the Proteas Test squad over the last few years. He made his Test debut in 2010 against India at Eden Gardens, Kolkata and immediately impressed with a century. He played 36 Tests in total and scored 5 hundreds with an average of 34.88.
CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, led the tributes for Petersen.
"Alviro's contributions to the Proteas success cannot be measured only in statistics. As a senior member of the team, he played a key role in establishing a successful team culture and introducing younger players to it. His confident starts and solid opening stands have been vital to our growth as a successful team. Together with Graeme Smith, he shared in major partnerships totalling more than 2000 runs at an average of more than 42. This is excellent for an opening batting partnership, which is arguably the most difficult job in the game, particularly under South African conditions.
"We well remember his century on debut against India at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2010 while his career best innings of 182 at Headingley in 2012 was pivotal to the Proteas beating England 2-0 and starting our standing as one of the best teams in the world. To have succeeded against the odds we know Alviro had to face during his formative years, makes him a true role model for every youngster aspiring to play for the Proteas.
"The foundation he has set up to improve the lives of disadvantaged communities says a great deal about Alviro the man. On behalf of all at CSA, I wish to sincerely thank Alviro for his part in making the Castle Lager Proteas one of the most formidable teams in the world. He can look back with great pride and satisfaction on having contributed to the most successful Test era in South African cricket history," said Lorgat.
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