Middlesex Cricket can announce today that captain Leus du Plooy will recommit to South Africa and will subsequently leave the club following the conclusion of the 2026 season.
His initial contract with the club was set to expire in 2027, with him being qualified as a local player; however, his recommitment to South Africa would make him an overseas player and invalidate the deal.
Du Plooy, now 31, joined the club from Derbyshire, where he had spent five years, ahead of the 2024 season. Since joining, the left-hander has made 38 appearances for Middlesex in first-class cricket, scoring 2795 runs at an average of 51.75, with seven centuries. His highest score in the format came in 2025 when he finished unbeaten on 263 against Gloucestershire at Lord’s in 2025. In T20s, Du Plooy has featured 31 times for Middlesex, scoring 594 runs.
In June 2025, he took over from Toby Roland-Jones and Steven Eskinazi as captain of Middlesex Men, and in May 2026 he was awarded his county cap.
On Du Plooy leaving the club, Director of Cricket Alan Coleman said:
“We are naturally disappointed that Leus will be leaving Middlesex at the end of this season, but are happy to support his decision to further his international aspirations.
“He is an ambitious individual who has always made clear his intention to play international cricket. He feels this is the best decision for him in order to achieve this, and we wish him all the very best of luck in the future.
“Leus has given his all in a Middlesex shirt, and we thank him for all he has done for the Club in his time here. He will always be welcome back here at Middlesex as an overseas player. To average over 50 in First Class cricket for the club marks him down as one of our finest performers in this format."
On leaving the club, Leus du Plooy said:
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at Middlesex for the incredible support I’ve received during my time at the club, both as a player and as captain.
“My time at Middlesex has meant a huge amount to me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities, friendships, memories and experiences I’ve had along the way. It has been a real privilege to represent the club and, in particular, to have had the honour of captaining Middlesex.
“The decision to leave was an extremely difficult one and certainly not something I have taken lightly. Ultimately, 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. It is something I have always dreamed of, but I also understand what an incredible privilege it would be to actually play for my country.
“I want to make it clear how grateful I am to Middlesex for the way the club has supported me throughout this process. I have been fortunate to have had such a strong relationship with the club, and the understanding and support shown in helping me make this decision has meant a great deal.
“I will always be incredibly proud of my time at Middlesex. The club will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I’m hugely thankful to everyone who has played a part in my journey.”
