Proteas opening batsman calls time on international cricket at age 34
South Africa opening batsman Alviro Petersen has retired from international cricket after the top-ranked Proteas sealed a 2-0 test series win over the West Indies.
Petersen's teammates came out from their dressing room on Tuesday to stand by him in a gesture of respect as he made his announcement at a news conference at Newlands following South Africa's eight-wicket victory in the third and final test.
"I feel that at 34 it is time for me to retire from international cricket and to move on with my career," Petersen said, adding he would focus on playing domestic cricket in South Africa and English county cricket for the next three years.
"It's something I started thinking about over the last six or eight months, but when I woke up on Saturday I realised that it was the right time because there are some good young players coming through."
Petersen made a century on debut against India in 2010 and finished with five centuries and eight half-centuries in 36 tests at an average of 34.88. He made over 2000 test runs.
His career-best 182 against England in 2012 "was pivotal to the Proteas beating England 2-0 and starting our standing as one of the best teams in the world," Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
Petersen played professionally for nine years before his call-up to South Africa's test team, and then made 100 in his first innings in Kolkata and became a solid opening partner for former captain Graeme Smith.
Bidding farewell, Petersen, who hasn't been part of South Africa's limited-overs plans since 2013, also wished the team luck for the 50-over World Cup starting next month.
"I will miss the Proteas' amazing team culture that we have built, international cricket, and especially my teammates, but it is time to move on," he said.
Dean Elgar guided the Proteas to the series-clinching eight-wicket win on the fifth day that will also secure them the ICC Test Championship mace and cash prize of USD$500,000.
The series win means irrespective of how both the fourth Test between Australia and India, and the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, pan out, South Africa cannot be removed from the top Test pedestal at the 1 April annual cut-off date.
South Africa now has 124 ratings points. Irrespective of the result in the Sydney Test, Australia will still finish second which will earn them USD$390,000. England and Pakistan are ranked third and fourth.
The left-handed Elgar made 60 not out as South Africa reached a victory target of 124 shortly before lunch.
It was tough going for South Africa at the start of the day after they resumed on 1-9.
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor and left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn did not concede a run until Elgar pulled Taylor for four after 26 minutes and off the 45th ball of the day.
The tall Benn was particularly difficult to score off, getting turn and bounce from a wearing pitch, with Faf du Plessis completely tied down.
Benn, who bowled Alviro Petersen with the last ball of the fourth day, did not give up a run until Du Plessis took a single off the fifth ball of his sixth over.
Du Plessis struggled to 14 off 69 balls before a ball from Benn kicked viciously and took the shoulder of his bat for Jermaine Blackwood to take a catch running back from gully.
Benn took two for 24 in an unbroken spell of 17 overs.
Elgar, who spoiled Benn's figures slightly by hitting him for six, went to his fifty off 86 balls with six fours and a six.
The scoring rate accelerated when captain Hashim Amla joined Elgar in an unbeaten partnership of 73 off 91 balls. Amla made 38 not out.
South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 220 runs. The second match in Port Elizabeth was drawn after more than two days of playing time was lost to rain.
The sides start a three-match Twenty20 international series at Newlands on Friday, to be followed by five one-day internationals.
