I am certainly not retiring from Test cricket: AB de Villiers

He has been out of action for over 6 months now, the injury has taken a bit too long and has kept him at bay which also pushed him to make the decision of giving up on the Test captaincy of the team having already stepped down as T20I skipper and AB de Villiers now is only the ODI captain of the team. There were speculations he might quit Test cricket in a bid to elongate his limited-overs career since he has the unfulfilled desire of winning a 50 overs World Cup with the South African team.

De Villiers during his chat on a radio show said he was fully fit after completely recovering from the elbow injury and will be available for selection from the 3rd T20I on January 25 at Cape Town. “I have had this elbow injury for a while now, but I am fully fit and I will be playing the last T20I in Cape Town on the 25 and then starting with the ODI series so I am very excited.”

He had made it clear that his intention is to be at his best for the 2019 World Cup and wants to lift the trophy this time and he is willing to do anything that it takes to win the trophy. “My main aim is to get to the 2019 World Cup and I want to do anything possible to get there. We haven’t lifted a trophy before. Yes, it’s important to play the other formats but mentally and physically I need to be in a good space come 2019 World Cup and that’s what I am aiming for. It’s still a long way away it’s all about managing that well in order for me to get there,” Said AB while explaining what he has been thinking in the last few months.

He wants to play all the formats but given the hectic international schedule and how his body has been shaping up he is forced to make tough decisions. “I have to make certain choices Its not easy. I have been a go-ahead guy, the team man. I have never wanted to miss a game for South Africa, and I still do. But it’s really tough to play all formats, especially at the age of 32 when most cricketers don’t go past 35. Hopefully, by then I would still be fit, and lift the trophy with the boys.” De Villiers said.

Also read- Cricket Australia gives special roles to Monty Panesar and former Indian bowler

Killing all the speculations of Test retirement the 32-year-old said, “I am not retiring out of Test cricket, that’s for sure; I am not retiring out of any format. I want to play as much as possible in order for me to play the 2019 World Cup.”

He praised the South African team for their recent performance and skipper Faf du Plessis for the way he has been leading the team. “The team is really doing well at the moment they have got a great leader in Faf du Plessis and the bowling attack has impressed me so much especially in Australia getting 20 wickets, winning the Test series coming back and maintaining the form has been spectacular.”

In his recently released book, he had said that his greatest disappointment was missing out on winning the World Cup 2015. “I took a lot of strain, I really believed that was our year, a big build up until then we were in great form as a cricket team unfortunately, we couldn’t. The dream is still there I am not gonna give up and 2019 here we come.” AB concluded saying.

You can listen to the full conversation here: