AB de Villiers might soon take a call on his Test career

AB de Villiers, the world’s most innovative cricketer and termed the best batsman by many is contemplating on closing his Test chapter to elongate his international career till the 2019 World Cup. Unable to cope up with the pressure of playing the three formats and his gradual dip in form over the last few months has prompted the South African to make the tough call a second time.

Incidentally, AB had decided to give up playing Test cricket last year on the back of a string of poor performances including in India. It has definitely hurt his ODI career leaving the Protea with no option than to desert the longest format of the game. But Cricket South Africa (CSA) instead asked him to take a one-year break from playing the longest format rather than retiring. However, things haven’t quite changed and de Villiers isn’t his self in most games he has played recently.

Meanwhile, coach Russell Domingo’s stint will be over after the England series and he has not shown any interest in re-applying for the same. Though the South Africans had backed him to continue with the job. This decision can also affect AB’s decision to continue playing Test. He said that he will discuss it with the CSA officials and make the final call.

The main reason

ESPNcricinfo reported that sources have revealed AB’s decision comes after sustaining an elbow injury which has kept him away from the Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa Tests last season. Also, South Africa’s dismal performance in the recent T20I series against England has forced him to seriously brood on the matter. The swashbuckling player has his sights set on the next World Cup and he wants to play and win it for his country by hook or by crook.

He commented on the recent mood of the South African camp after losing the series in England.”There are quite a few things that are changing in South African cricket at the moment, quite a few things we need to wait for. I don’t even think it’s in my hands what is going to happen,” said AB.

It has been assumed that those changes AB spoke of can be the introduction of South Africa’s T20 league and he wants to play his part in the league as a part of the Pretoria franchise. De Villiers loves IPL and has been a top performer in the league, his experience there can certainly add a lot of value to CSA’s newly born T20 league.