Du Plessis steps down as Test and T20 Captain

Faf du Plessis has stepped down as captain of South Africa’s Test and T20 cricket teams, saying it is in the “best interests” of the squads. 

The news follows Du Plessis’ replacement as one-day captain by Quinton de Kock in January. 

In a statement to South African media, Du Plessis said stepping down was “one of the toughest decisions to make”. 

He added: “It has been a rewarding, sometimes tough and other times a lonely road, but I would not replace the experience for anything, because it has made me the man that I am proud to be today.

"As the team heads into a new direction, with new leaders and a young crop of players, I feel it will be in the best interests of South African cricket to relinquish the captaincy in all formats.”

The 35-year-old batsman led the national team across all formats from 2012, scoring 5,101 runs - including 11 centuries - as captain.

Recent absences from the one-day international and T-20 series against England led to reports that Du Plesis would retire after the Test series. However, he has since confirmed that he has his sights set on the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts in October.

“I have never been one to throw in the towel and do believe I am putting the team first”, he said. 

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