Philander said he had been contemplating retirement for a while, reaching a stage in his career where he needed to make a decision. "I've had a wonderful career but I'm moving into the darker area for fast bowlers - 35 next year, so I think it's an appropriate time to call it a day in international cricket".

A pace bowler admired more for his seam and swing movement, Philander has so far played 60 Tests, having started his career in the longest format against Australia at Cape Town in 2011. He returned match figures of 8 for 78 in the match, including a five-for in the second innings which wrapped up the visitors for 47 and earned him the Man of the Match award in a winning cause.

Though not a limited-overs regular, Philander burst onto the Test scene with tremendous success. He averaged just 18.87 after his first twenty-two Tests, fashioning memorable victories in the company of first Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel then Kagiso Rabada, all bowlers known more for their pace and bounce.

However, Philander has been encountering fitness issues since late 2015, a series of injuries starting with hurting his left ankle while in India which ruled him out for the remaining part of the series. He continued facing injuries and illnesses in the subsequent times, taking no part in the 1-2 defeat to England at home in 2015-16 and also being ruled out of the third Test of the reciprocal series in 2017.

Philander last played an ODI in the 2015 World Cup while his final T20 international came as far back as in 2007 and his retirement comes close on the departure of Steyn and Morkel, though the former will continue playing limited-overs internationals. That aside, South Africa have suffered a talent drain with bowlers like Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott committing themselves to county cricket on a Kolpak deal.

South Africa begin their 2019-20 home summer against England with the first of the four Tests at Centurion starting on Boxing Day. The series then moves on to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, with Philander finishing what was a brilliant career for his country.