Beleaguered opening batsman Alviro Petersen has  announced his retirement from international cricket with effect from 1 April 2015.

‘I feel that at 34 it is time for me to retire from international cricket and to move on with my career,’ he said. ‘I intend playing county and franchise cricket for the next three years and also concentrating on my foundation and my cricket school.

‘It has been an honour to represent my country and to be part of a South African Test team that is ranked No 1 in the world. I want to thank Cricket South Africa, my team-mates, sponsors and cricket fans for all the support and memories over the years. I will miss the Proteas amazing team culture that we have built, International cricket, and especially, my team mates but it is time to move on.’

Petersen has coming under increasing pressure recently, and in the series against the West Indies, scored just 86 runs in five innings.

In 36 Tests, he scored 2 093 runs, averaging 34.88, with five centuries. In the ODI arena he amassed 504 from 21 matches at an average of 28.

CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, said:  ‘Alviro’s contributions to the Proteas success cannot be measured only in statistics. As a senior member of the team he played a key role in establishing a successful team culture and introducing younger players to it.

‘His confident starts and solid opening stands have been vital to our growth as a successful team. Together with Graeme Smith he shared in major partnerships totalling more than 2 000 runs at an average of more than 42. This is excellent for an opening batting partnership which is arguably the most difficult job in the game, particularly under South African conditions.’

Petersen’s career was highlighted by a century on debut against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2010 while his career best innings of 182 at Headingley in 2012 was pivotal to the Proteas beating England 2-0, when South Africa became the No 1 team in the world.