Leus du Plooy: Middlesex captain to leave club and chase South Africa opportunity

Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy will leave the club at the end of the season, after opting to recommit in international cricket to his native South Africa.

His deal, which was due to expire in 2027, relied on him being qualified as a local player, and he had previously expressed an interest in playing for England, external.

But his decision to pursue a South Africa cap makes him an overseas player and invalidates the Middlesex contract.

"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," Du Plooy told Middlesex's website, external.

The 31-year-old joined Middlesex in 2024, having spent the previous five years at Derbyshire.

The left-handed batter has scored 2,795 runs in first-class cricket for Middlesex, at an average of 51.75, with seven centuries, including a high score of 263 not out against Gloucestershire at Lord's in 2025.

He took over as captain of Middlesex in June that year.

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