Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy will leave the English county at the end of the 2026 season after deciding to recommit to South Africa.
The decision will end his status as a local player in county cricket and invalidate his Middlesex contract, which was due to expire in 2027.
READ: Pretorius, Tahir combine as Amazon Warriors stay unbeaten
Du Plooy said an opportunity had emerged for him to explore the possibility of earning a Proteas call-up.
The decision to leave was an extremely difficult
“The decision to leave was an extremely difficult one and certainly not something I have taken lightly,” said the 31-year-old.
“Ultimately, an opportunity has arisen for me to explore the possibility of representing South Africa, and I feel that I owe it to myself to see where that opportunity might lead.
“It is something I have always dreamed of, but I also understand what an incredible privilege it would be to actually play for my country.”
The Pretoria-born left-hander joined Middlesex from Derbyshire before
The Pretoria-born left-hander joined Middlesex from Derbyshire before the 2024 season and later became the county’s red-ball and T20 captain.
He has scored 2,795 first-class runs for Middlesex at an average of 51.75, including seven centuries. His highest score was an unbeaten 263 against Gloucestershire at Lord’s in 2025.
ALSO: Pretorius sets new world record with maiden T20I century
Middlesex director of cricket Alan Coleman said the county supported Du Plooy’s decision to pursue his international ambitions.
“He is an ambitious individual who has always made clear his intention to play international cricket,” Coleman said. “He feels this is the best decision for him in order to achieve this.”
Du Plooy’s future South African domestic team has yet to be announced.
https://x.com/Middlesex_CCC/status/2096191345983381568
Source: www.sacricketmag.com
