Saturday's final World Cup match for the Proteas against Australia will mark the end of an era in South African cricket.
While Imran Tahir and JP Duminy would have dreamed of a World Cup final being their final match for the national team after announcing their retirement, it wasn’t to be.
Instead they get to play the Baggy Greens in a dead rubber after their old foes did what South Africa couldn’t do, qualify for the playoffs.
With Tahir, 40, and Duminy, 35, says ta-ta, it remains to be seen if the match will also be veteran Hashim Amla’s final act in the Green and Gold.
At 36, Amla’s inclusion in the World Cup squad was a hotly-debated topic.
RETIREMENT: JP Duminy. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters.
And after he also took some time off from the game before the tournament to be with his ill dad, it might just be that the Mighty Hash will lay down his sword at the conclusion of the tournament.
Having failed to steer SA to success at the World Cup, another player that might be ending his ODI career is captain Faf du Plessis.
At 34, and with his groot bra AB de Villiers also not in the team anymore, Faf might also step down, if not as player, then certainly as captain.
Speedster Dale Steyn, 36, was also supposed to play in his final match for the Proteas on Saturday, but an injury ended his career prematurely when he was replaced in the squad by Beuran Hendricks.
RETIRED WITH INJURY: Dale Steyn was forced into early retirement following an injury during the Cricket World Cup. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters.
While Australia will use the match as preparation for the knockouts, South Africa will look to salute these legends in style by getting one over their big rivals.