What’s it going to be, AB de Villiers?
The 32-year-old added to the confusion about his Test future on Tuesday when he announced that he has not retired from Test cricket, but will not take part in the three-Test tour to New Zealand in February and March despite being earmarked for a comeback from injury at the end of this month.
“I’ve made (myself) unavailable for the Tests in New Zealand. I’m not there yet. I need a bit of time, just to settle things in my head. For me, the goal is the 2019 World Cup – I want to lift that trophy,” De Villiers was reported as saying.
Fair enough, and commendable from the star right-hander to want to turn the heartbreak of the 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat into a glorious title-winning campaign in 2019.
But De Villiers, who turns 33 next month, is seemingly having his bread buttered on both sides in the five-day arena, and that can be a dangerous path for Cricket South Africa to follow.
It appears as if the plum series against England in July and August, as well as next summer’s visits by Australia and India to South Africa is what is keeping De Villiers’ mind on Test cricket.
To say he needs “a bit of time… to settle things in my head” is a bit disingenuous, seeing that he has been sidelined since August. That’s nearly six months out of the game. Surely by now De Villiers should know whether he wants to play Test cricket or not?
One may argue that the Proteas could afford to be without De Villiers against the Kiwis, even away from home, but that the England tour and next summer is when South Africa would really need their ODI skipper in the Test side.
But what happens to the player who has to make way for De Villiers? On current form, that guy would be Temba Bavuma, as harsh as it would be to axe him after he played a few important innings in Australia.
Bavuma, though, is too good a player to be out of the runs for too long, and like Hashim Amla did at the Wanderers, Bavuma will hope to put up better numbers in the first New Zealand Test in Dunedin that starts on March 8.
With Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar established as openers, there aren’t any other gaps in the top six.
By the time the England Test series comes around, De Villiers wouldn’t have played any multi-day first-class cricket – unless he signs for a short-term county deal before the ICC Champions Trophy, which is unlikely.
As brilliant a player as he has been over the last decade or so, is it the right thing for De Villiers to just waltz back into the Test side, having last played a first-class game in the January 2016 clash against England at Centurion?
What makes the situation trickier for Proteas coach Russell Domingo and Cricket SA is the fact that De Villiers is sure to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in April and May.
There’s also the Caribbean Premier League in late June and early July to consider, with De Villiers having played in that tournament last year, with the England Test series starting on July 6.
There is no problem if De Villiers wants to reach the 2019 World Cup in England by “managing his schedule”. But it would be grossly unfair to his teammates and the coaching staff if he had to be available for a particular Test series and not others.
If he had to drop a format, it should surely be the T20 internationals. But it is crucial for a Test side that’s performing well, as the Proteas have this season, to continue with the momentum and grow as a team.
CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said on Tuesday that the organisation is handling the De Villiers matter on a “series at a time” basis. And the sensitivity is understandable, given that De Villiers has always been loyal to his country – having played 98 consecutive Tests, before the birth of his first child ended his remarkable run.
He has opened the batting in the past, kept wicket, and been brave enough to give up the Test captaincy following Faf du Plessis’ success in the role.
De Villiers has been a supreme batsman, arguably the best in the world, for a long time.
But perhaps Cricket South Africa should make the decision for him, to only play ODI cricket to be able to play at the 2019 World Cup.
@ashfakmohamed