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Duminy on Test cricket: I don't see it dying

Cape Town - Despite a few players opting to solely focus on white ball cricket, Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy is adamant that Test cricket is not dying. 

Duminy, 34, was in and out of Proteas Test set-up following the Proteas' horrid tour to England and made a decision to retire from Test cricket and first class cricket last year.

Since stepping away from the longer format of the game, Duminy has solidified his spot more so than ever in the national ODI squad. 

He was the leading South African batsman in last month's Sri Lanka tour - scoring 227 runs in five games with a high score of 92.

Duminy admits that focusing on one-day cricket has helped him hone a particular style of play.

"In terms of not playing four-day and Test cricket, it's sort of narrowed my focus, which is good. I kind of identified how I would want to play the game and what style of cricket I want to play and just commit fully to that," said Duminy at the Cape Cobras season launch.

READ: Proteas set to miss start of new-look T20 league

On Monday, Proteas team-mate David Miller announced that he will quit red ball cricket but will be available for all forms of limited-overs cricket for the national side and the Dolphins.

Miller, who hasn't played a Test match for the Proteas, had a solid first-class career (averaging 36.32) - similar to that of his ODI career where he averages 36.97.

Although Miller went a similar route to himself, Duminy believes that players leaving red ball cricket does not mean that the longer format of the game is dying.

"It comes down to the individual and what their preferences are," said Duminy at Newlands on Wednesday.

"I still believe the ultimate format is four-day cricket. You want to become a Test player, you have to play four-day cricket. There's no better feeling than getting a Test cap or scoring a Test hundred no matter what format you play that's always going to be the ultimate.

"So I don't foresee the Test cricket or four-day dying necessarily. There's still that love for the game," said the Cape Cobras white ball skipper.

"I think in terms of David it's purely a strategic move, him trying to solely focus on giving himself the best chance for the World Cup squad. I don't necessarily see that the game is going to die in the near future, I think the excitement and love for red ball cricket and specifically Test cricket is most definitely still there."

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