AB’s heartbreak after Cup defeat
SURPRISE: PROTEAS LOSE AFTER LAST-MINUTE TEAM CHANGE
Captain’s tell-all biography relates his experience at the helm of cricket squad.
South Africa’s captain at last year’s Cricket World Cup, AB de Villiers, divulges his experience with the Proteas in his autobiography. Launched yesterday, the book expresses his surprise at the controversial late selection switch that saw Vernon Philander replace Kyle Abbott for the semifinal, in which the Proteas fell agonisingly short of beating New Zealand.
But De Villiers is quick to point out that he does not feel it was responsible for their defeat.
Abbott had been the Proteas’ best seamer at the tournament heading into the semifinal, with the best average, economy and strike rates.
But Philander had been struggling with a hamstring strain.
“It was generally assumed the same team [that beat Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal] would be named to play in the semifinal‚“De Villiers writes in AB: the Autobiography.
“That was my expectation, as captain, until I was called to a meeting at 5.30pm on the evening of the match‚ and told Vernon Philander‚ who had passed his fitness test a few days earlier‚ would play, instead of Kyle Abbott.
“I knew about the Proteas’ convention that an incumbent player who is injured will automatically go back into the team when he returns to fitness ... Vern was an incumbent.
“None of us within the squad was counting. I sincerely believe we were genuine new South Africans, blind to race and colour. As far as I was concerned, it was just the strongest possible team representing our country.
“We had been assured that Cricket South Africa was the only national sporting governing body in the country that had declined to set a target for the number of players of colour to be included in the national team, but there was a delicate balance to be struck and it was generally understood that, as they chose the side, the national selectors would be conscious of working toward providing opportunities for at least four players of colour.”
De Villiers does go on to say Philander’s selection was not the reason they lost the game, pointing to lapses in the field and the fact that only leg-spinner Imran Tahir was more economical than Philander.
The captain reveals how he had gone to his bedroom to cry after South Africa’s heartbreaking semifinal loss, following what he described as the biggest disappointment of his career. –
The selectors were conscious of providing opportunities for at least four players of colour.
AB de Villiers South Africa’s captain at last year’s Cricket World Cup
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