Faf du Plessis hints at Joburg Test being his last at home as South Africa captain

Immediately after the game, Du Plessis said that he was focused on seeing the job through until after the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is due to take place in Octobern and November

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Faf du Plessis has admitted that the final Test against England could be his last at home as South Africa's captain.

The Proteas slumped to an innings defeat in Port Elizabeth on Monday to fall 2-1 behind in the four-match series.

Immediately after the game, Du Plessis - whose captaincy has come under increasing scrutiny over recent months - said that he was focused on seeing the job through until after the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is due to take place in October and November.

"There has been a lot of chat regarding (my) retirement but I've always been clear about taking a call after the T20 World Cup this year," he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"There aren't many Tests before that. Me and my team have been under pressure of not performing but we'll keep trying."

However, with speculation rife that Du Plessis could call time on his international career, the skipper then told the media that the Wanderers Test might be his last on South African soil.

^{England celebrate a wicket in Port Elizabeth}

The Proteas are due to play a pair of Tests in the Caribbean in late July and early August, but otherwise the team have no other scheduled red-ball cricket prior to the T20 World Cup.

"I have said before, there is an opportunity to release some of the captaincy. Two Test matches in the West Indies [in July], and the rest of the year is white-ball stuff. Most probably after that, Test cricket will be something that won't see me," he said.

"That's a decision I will make then. For me now it's to be as strong as possible."

Du Plessis added that "the worst thing a leader can do is pull the plug mid-series".

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"I don't think that's what's leadership is about," he said. "I felt that the team has needed a leader to stand up and guide the ship through a difficult time.

"If you leave the team when they need you most, that's not my style. I have been under pressure a few times and I've played my best innings under pressure.

"I can't leave the team when they need me most. We are in a transition but I can't do it forever. It has been chipping away at your character. For now, that's what we need. I think it will make it worse if I say I'm out."

Du Plessis has found going with the bat as tough as the captaincy in Tests of late.

He has reached three figures once in 24 innings, and has not made a half-century in any of his last nine trips to the crease in the format.