Cricket poorer in AB’s absence

FOURTEEN years, 428 international matches, 20 014 runs, 463 catches, 17 stumpings and nine wickets. No wonder AB de Villiers says he is tired. The precocious talent said this week he would represent his country no more. The Protea cap will go up on his shelf next to whatever other momentos he has kept. Whether De Villiers could have dragged his body to the next World Cup, or whether Cricket South Africa could have done more to ensure he did, is now a moot point.

De Villiers endured an emotional toll in the aftermath after the Proteas’ World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand in Auckland in 2015. It added to the tiredness he felt. Despite some glorious performances this year, De Villiers felt he simply couldn’t carry on at international level.

He leaves behind a host of memories; of thrilling innings, great catches, smiles and gasps of awe at his many endeavours.

The bulk of his time will now be devoted to wife, Danielle, and sons, AB junior and John. Priorities change as they must. No longer is smashing a cricket ball around a field quite as important for De Villiers. He’d like to play with his boys, take them to school, make dinner for his wife and probably play more golf.

He said he will still avail himself for the Titans, and has two more years left on his contract with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. There will undoubtedly be offers from other T20 leagues in England, Australia and the Caribbean.

But, international cricket will be poorer for De Villiers’s absence, and South Africa’s chances of winning the World Cup next year have become infinitely more difficult.