Should AB de Villiers Retire From Tests to Focus on 2019 Cricket World Cup?
South Africa cricket matches schedule sees them play an away Test series with Sri Lanka while also host Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Tests before the crucial ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
South African cricket is going through tough times these days. The loss in the First Test against Australia in Durban has piled on the misery on the Proteas. News making the round that its prodigal son of the soil and one of its most admired cricketers, AB de Villiers possibly hanging up his boots in the longer format of the game (especially with coming 2019 Cricket World Cup) after the series against the Aussies has not come at a right time for fans. Having made his debut against England in 2004, Mr 360 as he is fondly called is now at the twilight of his career. While his contribution to the cause of his team is undeniable, the age factor is something that cannot be ignored. AB de Villiers, who last month celebrated his 34th birthday, is on the wrong side of the thirties like many of his teammates. South Africa is now entering a phase of rebuild where young players come in and the old stars start to depart. But this transformation cannot be sudden as the young crops need time to find their feet in Test cricket.
AB de Villiers numbers speak volumes of his contribution to the South African cricket. Be it any format, ABD has been a constant performer and has enthralled crowds for a long.
AB de Villiers Career Statistics
| FORMAT | MATCHES PLAYED | RUNS SCORED | NUMBER OF 100s | NUMBER OF 50s | HIGHEST SCORE | AVERAGE |
| TESTS | 111 | 8409 | 21 | 43 | 278 | 50.05 |
| ODIs | 228 | 9577 | 25 | 53 | 176 | 53.5 |
| T20s | 78 | 1672 | 0 | 10 | 26.12 | 79 |
The biggest challenge now facing him is the burden of playing all three formats. Great players have always had the desire to excel and if they feel they are not able to give 100 percent to the team, have not been afraid to curtail their careers. AB de Villiers did take a sabbatical from Test cricket after captaining the Proteas against England in January 2016 and made his comeback in the day-night Test versus Zimbabwe. He helped his side overcome the Indian’s but an injury setback meant he has missed quite a lot of cricket prior to the Durban Test against the Aussies. While he has stated that he does not look far ahead and focuses on one game at a time, the question regarding his Test career does not seem to go.
South Africa's Test Matches Schedule in 2018-19
| MONTH | TOURNAMENT DETAILS | OPPONENT |
| AUG-SEPT 2018 | 3 TEST MATCHES | SRI LANKA (AWAY) |
| OCT 2018 | 1 TEST MATCH | ZIMBABWE (HOME) |
| DEC 2018-JAN 2019 | 3 TEST MATCHES | PAKISTAN (HOME) |
| FEB-APR 2019 | 3 TEST MATCHES | SRI LANKA (HOME) |
South Africa are off to Sri Lanka for a Test series while also host Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Tests before the crucial ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. World Cup has long evaded AB de Villiers and his country will need him to be at his best in England for the mega event. Looking at the schedule of the South African team, they are pitted against teams that are mediocre, to say the least. The schedule presents an ideal opportunity to a young player say someone like a Khaya Zondo, 27-year-old South African first-class cricketer to establish himself for the coming years. This thought process could prompt
ABD to hang up his boots in the longer format of the game as it serves two important purpose – Firstly, it helps keep him fresh for the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the other, it gives youngsters the chance to carry the baton for South Africa.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2018 01:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).