It is with a proud heart and a profound sense of gratitude that I announce my retirement from international cricket.

To wear the Proteas jersey is a feat that demands a level of resilience and dedication that both tests, and rewards you in the most incredible way. To have played for my country has been the greatest honour of my life.

This journey has been paved with years of sacrifice, but the privilege of representing South Africa was worth every moment.

Growing up in a household of four brothers - Adriaan, Nico, CE, and myself - the Proteas badge was always held as something sacred.

We lived and breathed the game together, and to be the one to carry our family name onto the international stage was a responsibility I was proud to embrace. I am merely a product of my environment, and of years of camaraderie, love, and pushing for greatness.

I owe a massive debt of gratitude to the Lions, and specifically to Lions current and former chief executive officers, Jono Leaf-Wright and Greg Fredericks.

Your unwavering backing and support over the years provided the foundation upon which my international career was built. You believed in me when the road was long, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Thank you to Cricket South Africa, Enoch Nkwe, and all the Proteas coaches and managers throughout the years for affording me the platform to wear the Proteas jersey.

To my friend, Chris Cardoso; we have been friends for 22 years, and for 18 of those, you have been my agent and manager. More than that, you have been my greatest confidant.

Thank you for guiding me, for advising me, and for standing squarely in my corner at every single decision-making intersection of my career. Your loyalty and wisdom have been my compass through it all.

To my wife, Lara; you have been by my side every single step of the way. You have ridden the waves of incredible highs and difficult lows with empathy, grace and strength, and you have been my biggest cheerleader, whom I could not have done this without.

To the people of South Africa and the fans; thank you. There is no feeling quite like hearing ‘Mathousand‘ called out in the streets, or the spine-tingling experience of walking out to bat at a packed Wanderers Stadium to the deafening roar of Fokofpolisiekar’s Antibiotika.

Those moments of connection is difficult to describe, and those emotions will stay with me forever.

To my team-mates, coaches, mentors, and friends; thank you for making me part of this story. Cricket has given me everything, and in many ways, I owe it my life.

My advice to young players has always been, and will remain, to dream big and give absolutely everything you have to achieve your dreams.

I have never viewed myself as more special or naturally talented than the next person. The simple fact that I have been able to live out my ultimate dream should serve as proof that you can too - no matter what your dream might be.

While my time in a Proteas shirt has come to an end, my journey is not over.

I will continue to play for my beloved Lions, and I am committed to giving back to this beautiful game by teaching and mentoring the next generation of South African cricketers. I love South Africa, and I love cricket. Thank you for everything.” - Rassie van der Dussen.