AB de Villiers’ appointment as permanent captain of South Africa will help with the stability of the Test side as it continues its transition.
De Villiers captained the team in the last two Tests of the series against England, losing the third which cost the home team the series, and winning the fourth.
He stepped in after Hashim Amla gave up the armband at Newlands, but there had been some confusion over his future, with De Villiers expressing concern over his workload.
Those talks will be ongoing, but for the good of the Test team his appointment in the most important position in the side on a permanent basis was imperative.
De Villiers is the sixth full-time Test captain since South Africa’s return from sporting isolation in 1991.
Given the worries about his long-term future with the national team, which he expressed before the third Test against England a fortnight ago, perhaps the best news to emerge from Cricket SA’s board of directors meeting is that De Villiers has been contracted for two years.
“AB is a class cricketer and a special person and the Board is delighted he has taken on the responsibility to lead the Proteas Test team during this crucial phase of guiding new players and rebuilding the team to once again be the best in the world,” said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
While there were several areas of concern about South Africa’s performances in the last 12 months, the recent lack of clarity over the leadership was one the team could ill-afford given the changes the team are undergoing at the moment.
Coupled with the natural changes that have to occur in the wake of the retirements of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen, there have also been injuries in key positions, most notably in the last three months to Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.
In their absence, debuts were handed to Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen, while Kagiso Rabada still has just six Test caps to his name. That lack of experience proved crucial, especially at The Wanderers where the series was lost against England.
Nevertheless, when De Villiers prematurely declared that it felt like all hope was lost, he also pointed out the important lessons the youngsters had to learn and that he was keen to guide them through that process.
That feeling only grew after he’d guided them to a first Test win under his captaincy at Centurion last week, when Rabada was very much to the fore with his match haul of 13 wickets.
“I have been privileged to play in several outstanding Proteas teams over the past 11 seasons. I believe we are witnessing the emergence of another great team,” said De Villiers.
“We are rebuilding and have a long way to go to being a finished product.” His first assignment in charge will be a short two-Test series against New Zealand in August. - Saturday Star