De Villiers considering ‘reducing workload’
Despite teammate Morne Morkel and Cricket SA denying any thoughts AB de Villiers had of retirement, the player himself admitted in an interview he had been considering reducing his workload.
De Villiers was interviewed by broadcaster SuperSport before the start of play on day three of the first Test against England at Kingsmead, in Durban, on Monday.
Newspaper Rapport on Sunday claimed through an unnamed source that De Villiers, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander had been considering retirement after the England series.
“There are a lot of rumours flying around I hear, but for the last two to three years the only talk I’ve been doing is to keep myself fresh and to have a bit of rest here and there,” de Villiers said.
“It’s always been the most important thing for me to enjoy my cricket. It’s just important to look at the schedule moving forward, that’s the talk in the camp and for me maybe not to play all kinds of cricket.”
Keeping himself ‘fresh’ would be difficult as Proteas management have heaped on the wicketkeeping duties for De Villiers as gloveman Dane Vilas was dropped after the India series.
De Villiers, as the undisputed best-player in the Proteas Test with a Test average of 51.39, is in high demand and turns out for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, extending his already convoluted schedule.
“If I play all the IPL games the whole season, I do get a bit tired towards the end of the season,” said De Villiers.
“That’s the only thing that I’ve been talking about in the last while. To keep myself fresh and to keep enjoying the game. I love representing my country and nothing has changed.”
ANA
(File photo)