South African bowler Kyle Abbott (L) celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's batsman Dhananjaya De Silva (not in picture) during the fifth and last day of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka on December 30, 2016 at St George’s Park ground in Port Elizabeth. / AFP PHOTO

Cape Town: South African fast bowler Kyle Abbott announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday to play in England, catching his employers by surprise and highlighting a growing drain of sporting talent from the country.