Duminy Calls Time On Test Career

South Africa allrounder JP Duminy has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect. Duminy was dropped from the team after the Lord’s Test against England in July – the first of a four-match series – and has decided to concentrate on the limited-overs formats going forward.

Duminy, 33, opted out of South Africa’s first round of domestic first-class fixtures, and told Independent Media he was quitting the longest format all together. “I certainly know that my playing career is far from over,” he said. “My hope is that with the backing of Cricket South Africa, the Cape Cobras, team-mates, family, friends and supporters, I will be given the opportunity to continue to give my very best to the sport I love dearly. But, after a long and careful deliberation, I have decided to retire from first-class and Test-match cricket with immediate effect.”

South Africa’s next Test assignment comes against Bangladesh, at home, from September 28.

In his 46 Tests, Duminy aggregated 2103 runs at 32.85. He made a big impact in his maiden series, against Australia in Australia in 2008: on debut in Perth, Duminy made an unbeaten half-century and was involved in an unbroken 111-run stand for the fifth wicket with AB de Villiers to help South Africa run down a target of 414 – the second-highest successful run-chase in Test cricket. In the next match, the Boxing Day Test, he made 166 – his highest in Tests – to carry South Africa from 251 for 8 to 459 and on their way to a series victory.

He has also taken 42 wickets with his offspin. However, while his one-day and T20 numbers remained solid, over the last couple of years his Test contributions tapered off, forcing his exclusion from the format.

Courtesy : espncricinfo