De Villiers to decide future in August

Image
AFP Cardiff
Last Updated : Jun 26 2017 | 9:48 AM IST
AB de Villiers left South Africa's tour of England saying he would decide his cricket future in August.
One of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, the 33 -year-old headed home after captaining the Proteas in a 19-run defeat by England in Cardiff on Sunday that saw them beaten 2 -1 in a three-match Twenty20 series.
They previously lost a one-day international series to England by the same scoreline and then suffered a hugely disappointing first-round exit at the Champions Trophy.
But a Test series against England is the centrepiece of a four-month tour.
However, it has long been planned that de Villiers would miss the four-Test campaign to take a break from the strain of being one of the world's leading players in all three international formats, as well as a man in demand at lucrative Twenty20 franchise events around the world.
Bangladesh are due to tour South Africa in September and de Villiers said he expected to know by then what his international workload would entail.
"I am going to meet with CSA (Cricket South Africa) in August, and that will decide my (international) future," de Villiers told reporters after making a typically dashing 35 off 19 balls.
- 'Won't pick and choose' -
===========================
"We will see what works for both parties," added the gifted shotmaker, who has scored more than 8,000 runs in 106 Tests, including 21 hundreds, at an average of over 50.
"We are not going to pick and choose games, but we are going to make a final decision about what happens for the next few years."
Asked what he would do for the next couple of months, de Villiers said: "I am going to spend a bit of time off at home with the family, I'm going to welcome my new youngster into the world, and obviously look to stay fit.
"I want to make sure I am ready for September, when Bangladesh come."
For all his success at Test level, de Villiers's burning ambition is to help South Africa win a maiden World Cup title.
Their attempts since a 1992 debut -- after years of isolation due to apartheid -- have been dogged by bad luck and reverses snatched from the jaws of all-but-certain victory, leaving South Africa with the unwanted tag of "chokers".
The next World Cup takes place in England in two years' time and de Villiers, in charge for a heartbreaking 2015 semi-final loss to co-hosts New Zealand in Auckland, said Sunday: "It's my main dream to win a World Cup for South Africa, or to be part of it in one way or another"
But de Villiers, whose stunning 31-ball century against the West Indies at Johannesburg in 2015 remains the fastest ODI hundred, added: "I don't even think it's in my hands, what is going to happen.
"I will wait until the final decision on the coach and things like that are made," he explained, with Russell Domingo's future already uncertain before he left the tour prior to the Proteas' three-run win in the second Twenty20 at Taunton on Friday after his mother was involved in a traffic accident.
"Then I can also have a chat to CSA, to see where I am going to fit in."
As well as de Villiers, South Africa could be without another senior batsman in Faf du Plesiss for the first Test at Lord's, which starts on July 6.
Du Plessis, the Proteas' Test skipper, is awaiting the birth of his first child, who is expected in the first week of July.
De Villiers, asked if he had thought about staying on to lead the Test side if du Plessis -- who missed the Twenty20 series in anticipation -- was still absent, replied: "No, not at all.
"I am batting really well at the moment, and really enjoying that. I love scoring runs, and that is all I am going to miss over the next two months.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 26 2017 | 9:48 AM IST

Next Story