AB wants World Cup
Ex-captain to concentrate on 2019 World Cup place
AB DE VILLIERS’S softening commitment to test cricket hit the game like a bombshell yesterday – but that bomb has been ticking for some time. De Villiers‚ who turns 33 next month‚ ruled himself out of the three-test series South Africa will play in New Zealand in March to focus on trying to keep enough in the tank to play in the 2019 World Cup.
But he stopped short of retiring from test cricket.
“For me, the goal is the 2019 World Cup – I want to lift that trophy. So I’ve made myself unavailable for the tests in New Zealand,” De Villiers said.
“I will be there for the one-day internationals‚ and I’m definitely not retiring from test cricket because I have plans to come back at some stage.”
The first indication that De Villiers was considering his future came last Wednesday‚ from one of his oldest friends.
“I’m not sure how AB will feel in terms of test cricket so we will have to see‚” Faf du Plessis said on the eve of the third test between South Africa and Sri Lanka.
“We’re excited to have him back in the one-day team. I’m hoping he decides to play [tests] for us.
“He is obviously a world-class batsman and I‚ as a captain‚ would love to have him as a leader in our team‚ and obviously as a batsman,” Du Plessis said. “He is a fantastic player. “The plan was for him to play in this series and then the one-dayers start‚ but now we will see what AB’s plans are – whether he wants to play.”
On Saturday‚ after the Wanderers test‚ coach Russell Domingo said: “We need to sit down with him and plan his future.
“AB has got to make that decision – I can’t decide on whether he plays or not.
“When I say that I mean AB has got to make the decision about whether he is available and the selectors have got to make the decision whether he plays. He has obviously got to make some decision about his future in cricket.” The uncertainty was striking. Both could easily have said something bland that did not raise more questions than it answered.
Yesterday, CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat explained the body’s position on De Villiers’s announcement.
“Firstly AB is not picking and choosing‚” Lorgat said.
“It is a plan that we had six months ago and it’s a case of when he starts and when he returns.
“Once he starts‚ there won’t be any stopping. When you play‚ you’ll be playing continuously. “He’s not picking and choosing and there have been deliberate discussions in terms of when he starts.”
South Africa have a packed schedule this year with a full tour of England coupled with the Champions Trophy hot on the heels of the New Zealand tour.
Whether or not De Villiers takes part in the Indian Premier League is still up for debate with the tournament starting on April 5 and ending on May 21.
On that day‚ South Africa will be playing a tour match against Northerns ahead of their first ODI against England at Leeds three days later.
The test series will follow after the T20 series and the Champions Trophy‚ where Lorgat is hoping De Villiers will be refreshed for the England challenge.
De Villiers resigned the test captaincy last month. –