South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis Wednesday announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket.

 

 Kallis had quit Tests late last year after the series against India but wanted to play limited-overs cricket till the 2015 World Cup in Australia-New Zealand.  However, after scores of 0, 1, 4 on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, he decided to call it a day from all forms of international cricket. 

 

 "I realised in Sri Lanka that my dream of playing in a World Cup was a bridge too far," the 38-year-old said in a statement released by Cricket South Africa (CSA), reports South African media.  "I just knew on that tour that I was done. The squad that was in Sri Lanka is an amazing one and I believe they have a good chance of bringing the trophy home in March.

 

 "I would like to thank Cricket South Africa, the team, the team sponsors, my sponsors, the fans and all the people who have been involved in my career. It has been an amazing journey."  Kallis said he would  continue to play T20 franchise cricket for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash B League.

 

 "I am not retiring from all cricket as I have a two-year contract with the Sydney Thunder and, if possible, to help the Kolkata Knight Riders defend the IPL title we won earlier this year."  He has scored 11,579 runs in 328 One-Day Internationals with 17 centuries and 86 fifties at an average of 44.36. 

 

 He has played 25 T20s, scoring 666 runs with five fifties. He is the lone South Africa batsman with over 10,000 runs in Tests and ODIs.  He ended his Test career at Durban against India in December after scoring 13,289 runs in 166 matches with 45 centuries, 58 fifties at an average of 55.37. Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, in a rich tribute said Kallis is one of the greatest players the game has seen. 

 

 "South Africa has been blessed with one of the world’s greatest cricketing talents in Jacques Kallis. He is undeniably one of the greatest players ever to have graced our wonderful game and he has certainly been the Proteas standard-bearer of excellence for nearly two decades.

 

 "He has played a huge part in making cricket a truly national sport of winners and, in doing so, contributed so much to the important process of nation building. He is a true professional and it has been an absolute privilege to have worked with him both as Convener of Selectors and now as Chief Executive.

 

 "To say that we will miss him on the playing field is stating the obvious. Each one of us from this day on will treasure the many fond memories of his awesome career.

 

 "On behalf of CSA and all our stakeholders, I would like to sincerely thank Jacques for his huge contribution to the game of cricket and wish him only the best as he moves on from the international playing arena."