Golf game's still good as injured AB de Villiers plays a round!

[R3verse Swing]

What to make of this then? ABV ruled out for 3 ODIs but was spotted playing Golf!

-----------

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/golf-games-still-good-as-injured-ab-plays-a-round-20180203

Cape Town - Despite being ruled out of the opening three (of six) One Day Internationals (ODI) against India with a finger injury, star batsman AB de Villiers was spotted on the fairways of Pretoria Country Club earlier in the week.

Late last Tuesday afternoon, January 30, Cricket South Africa (CSA) issued a statement confirming De Villiers had sustained a finger injury in the third and final Test against India at the Wanderers and would require "up to two weeks to make a full recovery".

The statement went on to confirm that the medical team, under the guidance of Dr Mohammed Moosajee, were hopeful De Villiers would be fit in time for selection for the fourth 'Pink' ODI on Saturday, February 10.

The ODIs De Villiers were due to miss were scheduled for February 1, 4 and 7.

Those present at Pretoria Country Club a day after the diagnosis, Wednesday, January 31, may therefore have been somewhat bemused and confused as De Villiers enjoyed a round of golf while his team-mates were preparing for the opening ODI in Durban, a match the Proteas would go on to lose by six wickets.

The Proteas were then embarrassed in the second ODI at De Villiers' home SuperSport Park on Sunday, crashing to a record nine-wicket loss as India opened up a 2-0 series lead heading into the third match at Newlands on Wednesday.

Eagle-eyed members of Pretoria Country Club confirmed to Sport24 that De Villiers did indeed play 18 holes and pointed out his score on the Handicaps SA Network.

For the record, De Villiers signed for an impressive round of 9-over par, 81 off his current 11 handicap.

While no conspiracy is suggested, and a formal response from CSA is awaited, fans of the Proteas will no doubt draw their own conclusions whether it's 'fair or foul' South Africa's star batsman should potentially risk further injury by hitting the fairways.

 

[MenInG]

I would be very upset if I were SA fan!

 

[DeadBall]

Like I said before, he's not really interested in playing for SA apart from trying to win them a WC. Just resting for the IPL. Also like most South Africans he will run at the first sign of pressure ala Faf, De Kock etc. Imagine if a Pakistani or Indian player did that.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

I don't know how many on this forum really played cricket, because unless your finger is fractured it creates more problem in bowling and fielding in comparison to batting.
I don't know the extent of ABD injury but it is really hard to field with injured fingers. As a Indian I will be upset if Kohli allowed ABD to have a substitute because his injury was before the start of match.

 

[DeadBall]

I don't know how many on this forum really played cricket, because unless your finger is fractured it creates more problem in bowling and fielding in comparison to batting.
I don't know the extent of ABD injury but it is really hard to field with injured fingers. As a Indian I will be upset if Kohli allowed ABD to have a substitute because his injury was before the start of match.

I have played the game and one needs to have a solid grip on the club in Golf to play 18 holes and if your finger is fractured its not possible. End of. AB was kind of stupid to pursue this venture at the moment.

 

[BaankeJi]

Maybe he has recovered a lot but not fully.

 

[Ab Fan]

What is the point?

Should he play the odi games with injured finger where he will have to field a 50-over game?

He is playing this golf game because he is able to manage to play this game and is just passing off the time. Usual unnecessary logics by SC fans. Not much to talk of this.

 

[Savak]

I get the impression that the South African team is running scared from Kohli's India.

 

[Sidilicious]

Always thought he would have a handicap of 3-4. 9 isn’t bad though. Been stuck on 18 for 4 years.

I am not sure if the finger was fractured or bruised. Either way, a golf grip will test your fingers and wrists.

 

[DeadBall]

What is the point?

Should he play the odi games with injured finger where he will have to field a 50-over game?

He is playing this golf game because he is able to manage to play this game and is just passing off the time. Usual unnecessary logics by SC fans. Not much to talk of this.

Its not SC fans logic, well it is, as they are too passionate. AB didn't play for the last year or so however he has played the IPL and is probably just keeping it cool till the next edition. Not that I have a problem with that, it's just that he should just come out and say that he prefers that the shortest format now which pays a lot. Thats his prerogative. Imagine Messi/Ronaldo saying they're too injured to play for Argentina/Portugal but are participating in beach football or foosball tournaments.

P.S - Couldn't find an apt comparision of a sport where you use just your feet. (American Football not considered for obvious reasons)

 

[Ab Fan]

Its not SC fans logic, well it is, as they are too passionate. AB didn't play for the last year or so however he has played the IPL and is probably just keeping it cool till the next edition. Not that I have a problem with that, it's just that he should just come out and say that he prefers that the shortest format now which pays a lot. Thats his prerogative. Imagine <BMessi/Ronaldo saying they're too injured to play for Argentina/Portugal but are participating in beach football or foosball tournaments<B>.

P.S - Couldn't find an apt comparision of a sport where you use just your feet. (American Football not considered for obvious reasons)

Are you trying to say he wasn't injured and just fooled everyone with the injury excuse because he is not interested in playing a meaningless bilateral odi series vs India? If he didnt wanted to play, he could have simply asked for rest for that. Nobody in South Africa would even care.

He took a gap from test cricket not odis. Odis are short formats only. Test isn't in which he returned back recently.

SC fans,in general, are passionate no doubt but crazy too.An example can be taken by how they reacted to Kohli's failure in WC 2015 semis.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

I have played the game and one needs to have a solid grip on the club in Golf to play 18 holes and if your finger is fractured its not possible. End of. AB was kind of stupid to pursue this venture at the moment.

This is what I am saying, I am bad at explanation. He can bat with injured finger but can he field?
Injured finger can cause really lots of pain during fielding even with minor injury. And I said it before I will be really upset if Umpires or Kohli allowed south africa substitute in fielding for injury which happened before the match.
Remember England once played KP with injury against Lanka and Mahela said no to substitute fielder because injury happened before the start of match. and it was type of comical to see KP field with pain.

 

[DeadBall]

Are you trying to say he wasn't injured and just fooled everyone with the injury excuse because he is not interested in playing a meaningless bilateral odi series vs India?
.

Yeah, thats what I meant.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yeah, thats what I meant.

No wonder, pretty absurd logic. You can continue with it.

 

[DeadBall]

This is what I am saying, I am bad at explanation. He can bat with injured finger but can he field?
Injured finger can cause really lots of pain during fielding even with minor injury. And I said it before I will be really upset if Umpires or Kohli allowed south africa substitute in fielding for injury which happened before the match.
Remember England once played KP with injury against Lanka and Mahela said no to substitute fielder because injury happened before the start of match. and it was type of comical to see KP field with pain.

True. I was just pointing out that you need a really solid grip in Golf to tee off/drive and that would be really hard if your finger was fractured.

 

[DeadBall]

No wonder, pretty absurd logic. You can continue with it.

Well you are the one who called it meaningless.

 

[Hasan123]

If he's injured to play cricket I don't see an issue with him playing golf. If it was going to affect his injury I doubt he would play golf.

 

[Ab Fan]

Well you are the one who called it meaningless.

I am unable to understand the logic.

This is odi series not tests. Odis are what he prefers playing because he want to win the WC next year. Why would he miss on this? Nothing better than boosting stats against India in odi match.

 

[wasimjunior]

I am unable to understand the logic.

This is odi series not tests. Odis are what he prefers playing because he want to win the WC next year. Why would he miss on this? Nothing better than boosting stats against India in odi match.

Let's flip it...

Would you say AB is fully committed to playing for his country and has been in the past?

 

[Ab Fan]

If he wants to keep himself fresh for IPL, he would rather fool the people by giving the injury excuse when the test series vs Australia will come not these odis vs India.

Afterall, test series vs Australia will be far tougher than the ongoing odi series vs India.

 

[Ab Fan]

Let's flip it...

Would you say AB is fully committed to playing for his country and has been in the past?

Simple answer. He was fully committed to playing for his country for first 12 years of his career but the workload got the better of him because of that added captaincy pressure which he wanted back in 2013 when he was at peak but got it when he was already fainted in 2016 and in between that keeping load.

End result, he took a two year break from test cricket because that is what will give you enough break to reinvent yourself and <B>as of now is fully committed to LoIs for South Africa</B>.

The India vs SA LOI series which he is injured and not playing.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Let's flip it...

Would you say AB is fully committed to playing for his country and has been in the past?

He has represented South Africa in 413 international matches.
Amla who is 1 year older than him represented in 316 international.
GC Smith who is more than 3 years older than ABD represented in 347 international.
Steyn who is one year older than ABD represented SA in 246 international.
But ABD has no interest in representing South Africa.
Youngest of four atg and already played more matches by a fair distance and that too with injury prone body.
South African cricket board never took care of him so he want to extend his career till 2019 , and I don't see what is wrong.

 

[DeadBall]

Simple answer. He was fully committed to playing for his country for first 12 years of his career but the workload got the better of him because of that added captaincy pressure which he wanted back in 2013 when he was at peak but got it when he was already fainted in 2016 and in between that keeping load.

End result, he took a two year break from test cricket because that is what will give you enough break to reinvent yourself and <B>as of now is fully committed to LoIs for South Africa</B>.

The India vs SA LOI series which he is injured and not playing.

Yet he was forced to represent SA in Tests against India which they actually won due to him but got injured injured in the process for the LOI phase in which he actually wanted to compete.

1 - SA and PCB boards are long lost incompetent cousins.

2 - After what AB has done for South African cricket, he should be allowed to choose the format he wants to play in, although he must come and say it outright rather than trying to appease everyone.

 

[Ab Fan]

<B>Yet he was forced to represent SA in Tests against India</B> which they actually won due to him but got injured injured in the process for the LOI phase in which he actually wanted to compete.

1 - SA and PCB boards are long lost incompetent cousins.

2 - After what AB has done for South African cricket, he should be allowed to choose the format he wants to play in, although he must come and say it outright rather than trying to appease everyone.

Not at all. He said it long back that he is available for test series vs India and Australia.

He played the test series vs India and yes he got injured and is missing from first three odis . Will come back in 4th odi. Again, what is there to talk about?

In his very old interview back, he said he will be returning back to test cricket and will be available for those 6 tests vs India and Australia(now its 7) and after that he is yet to decide about his test career further as he wants to win his team a WC.

So, as of now, we can come to the conclusion that he will be available for atleast the test series vs Australia but whether he will be there after that or not, is undecided yet and only he knows.

As for limited overs, he has been committed for it. Why would he leave out playing the odi series vs India?

And I think this is where we started the discussion I guess. We were talking about his commitment to LOIS right?

 

[DeadBall]

And I think this is where we started the discussion I guess. We were talking about his commitment to LOIS right?

Yes that was the whole basis of this discussion. Given how injury prone he is atm (ala Steyn) it would be better to just use him in his preferred format.

 

[Sam99]

Nothing new. He left his team in trouble during test series in england when they needed him most and went on to play t20 leagues for money.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

I would be very upset if I were SA fan!

Doubting AB's commitment to the team. Frankly he should be upset with his fans.

The guy goes out there and plays for the team every damn time and yet fans have questioned his priorities time and again.

 

[WengerOut]

ABD should seek permission here. Otherwise the wrath of PP ers , you don't wish on your enemy.

 

[kingusama92]

Doubting AB's commitment to the team. Frankly he should be upset with his fans.

The guy goes out there and plays for the team every damn time and yet fans have questioned his priorities time and again.

I can understand their frustration.

ABD is a great player but comes across as a tad selfish. He dragged them along for a while with the "I may or may not retire" nonsense.

Heading to the golf course with a finger injury doesn't help his image.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Next thread: AB caught eating burger and fries while injured! SA fans upset!

 

[Oligochaetes]

ABDV was testing his finger while playing golf, giving it some exercise, Simple!

Next step, batting in the nets, then finally fielding I guess. All's good. All according to plan.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

I can understand their frustration.

ABD is a great player but comes across as a tad selfish. He dragged them along for a while with the "I may or may not retire" nonsense.

Heading to the golf course with a finger injury doesn't help his image.

Tbh no one knows whats the real story behind. AB doesn't have a lot left in him. And he is selfish if he wants to win SA a world cup and retire?

I think he's made his priorities clear by stating right after 2015 itself that he would like to play till 2019 to win SA a world cup. And he's skipped plenty of tests in between to keep himself injury free and in-shape. And guess what happened when SA called him back to play a test series?

He knows his body and he knows that he can't play longer forms, SA should let him go. CSA are being selfish here. As for AB choosing to play leagues, just because his body can't handle longer forms anymore, he shouldn't earn money from leagues? lol

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

I'm beginning to lose respect for AB. For months on end, he kept his fans and teammates in the dark about his future with the test side and created unnecessary controversy. I don't think he has major issues with fitness or injuries, and if he does, then best to leave the team now for good. He isn't the same player he used to be.

 

[ZyzzBrah]

If this was Kohli this forum would be having a party hating on him. Fact is AB is a coward and goes missing when ever you need him. He runs away from the top dogs and hides. Kohli regardless of winnings or losing he shows up leading hisb troops. AB only cares about the IPL money and glory of a World Cup. He will never win a World Cup period he don’t have the fight in him.

 

[Smbhayi]

Tbh no one knows whats the real story behind. AB doesn't have a lot left in him. And he is selfish if he wants to win SA a world cup and retire?

I think he's made his priorities clear by stating right after 2015 itself that he would like to play till 2019 to win SA a world cup. And he's skipped plenty of tests in between to keep himself injury free and in-shape. And guess what happened when SA called him back to play a test series?

He knows his body and he knows that he can't play longer forms, SA should let him go. CSA are being selfish here. As for AB choosing to play leagues, just because his body can't handle longer forms anymore, he shouldn't earn money from leagues? lol

lol he can retire from test format, nobody force him to play, just want to clear his stand on that format. that's what people asking.

 

[kingusama92]

Tbh no one knows whats the real story behind. AB doesn't have a lot left in him. And he is selfish if he wants to win SA a world cup and retire?

I think he's made his priorities clear by stating right after 2015 itself that he would like to play till 2019 to win SA a world cup. And he's skipped plenty of tests in between to keep himself injury free and in-shape. And guess what happened when SA called him back to play a test series?

He knows his body and he knows that he can't play longer forms, SA should let him go. CSA are being selfish here. As for AB choosing to play leagues, just because his body can't handle longer forms anymore, he shouldn't earn money from leagues? lol

At one point, they were simply asking him "are you in or are you not?" but he wouldn't answer. They were even ready to move on with Faf as the leader.

Just bizarre how he handled that situation. Very unprofessional.

I'm one of those guys who fully support players retiring from Test cricket to earn money. It's a short career and you need to take advantage of such opportunities. BUT, you can't toy around with the selectors and players who are interested in building a proper Test squad.

 

[Bilal7]

He lost respect for his actions last year but if he helps South Africa get to #1 once again, it will all be forgiven.

He doesn't need to play every test series but a team needs its best players for the most important ones.

Also, if he needs a rest so bad but can't stop being greedy about IPL money, why is he playing IT20s? The next WT20 is two years away and he likely won't be a part of it. Why doesn't he rest himself for these meaningless games?

 

[Ab Fan]

I would rather say Saffers team management didnt treated him well.

You dont give captaincy as well as keeping skills both to a guy who has been playing cricket from last 12 years recklessly and that too after he past his prime and is fainted after playing so much cricket.

If AB was from subcontinent, he might be criticised more for his deeds but he would also have been hyped a lot more before all that.