Hashim Amla has succeeded Graeme Smith as South Africa Test captain.
The 31-year-old is the fifth permanent skipper of the Proteas five-day team following Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock and Smith - who announced his international retirement in March.
Amla will begin his leadership in a two-match series in Sri Lanka next month, with fellow batsman AB de Villiers, captain in one-day internationals, as his deputy.
Amla, who joined Surrey last month on a short-term deal to fill the void left by Smith’s potential season-ending knee injury, said: "It is an honour and a privilege to be given this responsibility.
"I would like to pay tribute to the leadership Graeme Smith has provided throughout my international career.
"This is an exciting challenge but one that I take on with positivity with our Test team being in exceptionally good space at the moment with the support of a strong core of senior players.
"I have concentrated on taking my batting to the highest-possible level and now I feel I am in a position to make a contribution to South African cricket in a leadership role."
Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat hopes the appointment of Amla brings some much-needed stability to the world's second-ranked side after the retirements of senior players Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and Smith.
"It is a reflection of the excellence and standing of our senior players that there was more than one quality candidate to consider for this most important leadership position," Lorgat said.
"Hashim is universally respected, both in South Africa and around the cricketing world, not only for his quality as a player which has seen him ranked among the best batsmen in the world in both Test and ODI cricket, but also for his personal qualities.
Just landed in Jhb to news of @amlahash congrats my bud and excited to watch you shape proteas test future.
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) June 3, 2014
"He has shown his steel in playing in the key number-three batting position, one which he took over from Jacques Kallis with great success.
"The manner in which he has adapted his game to suit the different forms of cricket speaks volumes for his skills to react to changing circumstances.
"He has earned particular respect as a role model for his humility and his upholding of the best traditions and spirit of the game.
"Becoming captain is a natural progression for his outstanding career and we are indeed fortunate to have a leader of his quality.
"Stability has been one of the endearing qualities he has brought to the Proteas and this is important at a time when we have had to replace several key players in Smith, Kallis and Boucher."