Pollock ends international career

Pollock is currently playing in the Test match against West Indies

Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock has announced his retirement from international cricket aged 34.

Currently playing his 108th Test, he will retire after his 303rd and final one-day match on 3 February.

He said in a prepared statement: "I realise I have been blessed by God and feel I have nurtured my talents to the best of my abilities."

Pollock had been overlooked by the selectors for Test duty in recent months before returning at Durban.

He took 4-35 against West Indies in 11 overs on Thursday.

Pollock continued: "I'd like to thank Cricket South Africa for allowing me the opportunity of representing my country for the last 12 years.

I have made some wonderful friendships and have played against some remarkable characters Shaun Pollock

"I thoroughly enjoy the honour and privilege of wearing the Protea badge and take with me some remarkable memories, having played against some great players."

Speaking to the media after day two of the Durban Test, his home ground, he added: "I made the decision at the start of the season that the West Indies series would be my last."

He thanked CSA's support staff, administrators, sponsors and players and said the timing was right for him to go after seeing some young bowling talent "waiting in the wings".

Pollock's first Test victim was Graham Thorpe, in November 1995, and he has gone on to take 420 wickets in all, while scoring 3,476 runs with two centuries.

His place in the one-day squad had remained secure - in that format he has taken 387 wickets and scored 3,476 runs with one century.

He said: "I have been fortunate to be in a team that has had the calibre of players to beat any opposition on any given day.

606: DEBATE He was surely one of the best cricketers in the last decade. I salute you Pollock! greyblazer

"I have made some wonderful friendships and have played against some remarkable characters."

Pollock played in four World Cups, but South Africa never went beyond the semi-finals of 1999 and 2007.

Nor did they beat Australia in a Test series during his career.

Pollock said his career highlights were being rated the number one bowler in Tests and one-day internationals, and winning the Commonwealth Games as captain in 1998.

Though he did not mention it, the lowpoint was clearly when he was sacked as captain in 2003 after his team bowed out of the World Cup at the group stages in Durban.

In a match against Sri Lanka ended early by rain, he had miscalculated the required score to win the contest under Duckworth-Lewis regulations.

Pollock said he was looking forward to playing in the Indian Premier League in April and May and was ready for "some new challenges".

He added: "Only time will tell what my involvement with South Africa will be."