AB has the spring back in his step

Who can ever forget a crestfallen AB De Villiers after South Africa's World Cup semi-final defeat against New Zealand? Photo by: Anthony Phelps/Reuters

Who can ever forget a crestfallen AB De Villiers after South Africa's World Cup semi-final defeat against New Zealand? Photo by: Anthony Phelps/Reuters

Published Jun 5, 2015

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This was a very different AB de Villiers to the one that faced the media after the Eden Park epic. There at New Zealand’s storied rugby ground a crestfallen De Villiers could barely hold back the tears after his team came agonisingly close to becoming the first Proteas side to reach a World Cup final.

The infectious smile and the glint in his eye was back. Perhaps it was the glare of the five trophies – which included the coveted SA Cricketer of the Year award for the second year running – garnered at the glittering Cricket South Africa Awards ceremony or the fact that his wife Danielle is expecting their first-born fairly soon, but De Villiers certainly had the spring back in his step.

He admits that the deep wounds suffered on that fateful night in Auckland have not completely been healed. However, the Proteas ODI captain certainly did not become the best batsman in the world through sulking. And in typical De Villiers style he has identified how he intends leaving an everlasting legacy on the South African cricket landscape.

“These awards mean absolutely nothing when it comes to that (the World Cup trophy). I wanted to bring that World Cup home, and I still want to do that. I am still disappointed what happened there, but I have moved on. We are all mature enough as a group of players that we have moved on and that there are new challenges ahead,” De Villiers said.

“We have got lots of youngsters coming through. Our culture is really strong and I am looking forward to moving into that part of my career where I start helping the guys that are to step into our shoes, take responsibility and become senior players themselves. There are very exciting times ahead.” - The Star

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