AB de Villiers surprised 'close friend' Vernon Philander with his retirement

It has been the South African dream to win a World Cup, they’ve been a promising prospect most times but never quite managed to get their hands on the trophy. 2019 was expected to be different, the team wanted to do it for the legend, AB de Villiers, he would’ve also loved to retire on a high having achieved most other things in his career already. But that was not to be and De Villiers retired in May 2018. Not just the fans but his former team-mate Vernon Philander was surprised with the decision as well.

It was just after the Indian Premier League (IPL). AB had played so well in the series against Australia as well as against India. He was making a difference, was definitely the best batter in the team at that position and his IPL exploits with the Royal Challengers Bangalore weren’t ordinary either.

Was a bit surprised

“I was a bit surprised to be honest with you,” Philander told Sport24. “But AB had played a lot of cricket. He spoke to me during the Australia series and he said he has a young family and was considering calling it quits,” he added.

De Villiers had later explained that it was getting too much for him, handling the pressure of representing the national team always being at the top of his game and the enormous expectations. Retirement gave him a lot of relief and he will hope the calmness stays with him.

“With the amount of cricket he was playing and all the pressure on him, I think he just thought the time was right to call it a day internationally, with all upcoming fixtures for South Africa. He probably got to a stage where it was either going to be family or cricket, and he chose the former,” said Philander.

“You have got to give it to the guy – he served his country with immense pride and you couldn’t ask anything more of him. There is a time in all of our careers when enough is enough.”

Philander himself has a few answers to find. The pacer with 55 Tests under his belt is currently out of the team nursing an ankle injury and will be out of action at least until November. The 33-year-old now want to regain match fitness and be back in the whites at the earliest.

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