Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
BENGALURU: Batting maestro AB de Villiers' decision to skip Test cricket this season stems from his desire to play a key role in South Africa winning an ICC tournament. At 33, the player, who is a fine synergy of talent and temperament, knows his time at the crease is decreasing and hence wants to preserve himself for prime events and focus more on life beyond the boundary. ABD, who recently launched FanHeroAB17, his personalised fan engagement app, spoke about managing workloads, being inspired by Rafa Nadal and why Test cricket is here to stay. Excerpts:
On skipping Tests for 2017
It's been coming for a few years now, where I've felt the need to manage my cricket a bit. Firstly, my goal is the 2019 World Cup. We haven't won a trophy like that in an ICC event before. So my focus has changed over the years. Looking at my age - I'm 33 now and probably will not continue to play for another 10 years - so my chances of winning a World Cup are becoming lesser. There are a few things that stand in my way to get to that World Cup - physical fitness, mental freshness, time with the family, time at home, things like that. For me to stay stay healthy until 2019, I decided that what's hardest on my body is Test cricket.Tests over the last few years have physically challenged me a bit, so I felt that I just needed to get away from that format a little bit.
On closing in on to 10,000 runs in Tests
I mean no disrespect to anyone who has ever achieved that. But it means absolutely zero to me to achieve 10,000 runs. I don't care about that at all.
On managing workload
I haven't played a lot, but coming back against New Zealand I still played alright. It's not easy, but it's a great challenge to get away from the game and then to work hard and work your way back. I've found inspiration through a lot of athletes who have done that in the past. I think of (Rafa) Nadal. The way he's come back has inspired me a lot. I'm still motivated to play for as long as possible, and as long as that motivation is there mentally, nothing is going to stop me. is there mentally, nothing i On work-life balance Preparing for games, the game itself, time with family...it's really important to get that balance right. It's something I probably haven't got right over the last 3-4 years. Therefore, I'm sitting with a couple of injuries. I am getting that balance now. I feel really happy. You can see in the park, I've got a smile on my face again, which might not have been clear in the last few years.
Is Test cricket facing an existential crisis?
The way T20 has hit the ground, it was always going to be a challenge for Test cricket to keep people involved and interested. But the ICC has got it right in the last few years. There's been some unbelievable Test cricket played over the last 5-7 years. Some games I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I've no doubt in my mind that the format is here to stay, forever hopefully. As a player, I know it's the real challenge and the real test for a player. If you can survive in Test cricket, then you know you can play the game.
Could the importance of ODI cricket decline?
Hopefully not, because I still want to win a World Cup. Hopefully it doesn't go away. (Once we win the World Cup) then it can go. I'm kidding (laughs). I think the three formats are unique and completely different. It's a beautiful format. I wouldn't like to see it go anywhere.
Will you reconsider wicket-keeping?
Definitely not. I'll miss the next five years if I start 'keeping again. My back won't allow that.
On Kohli's growth as a leader
At the start when people mentioned that he has leadership qualities and might become a captain one day I doubted it. I thought he was emotional with his reactions. I think he has found a way to deal with it. He is still an emotional character, he loves winning and is very passionate but he has found a way to manage and control that. I know he is a great asset for Indian cricket, he leads exceptionally well. He has showed he has skills with his captaincy and has taken all the doubters and showed them he can conquer anything. He did not have the best of series (against Australia) with the bat but what stood out was his leadership.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...to-me-ab-de-villiers/articleshow/58059708.cms
On skipping Tests for 2017
It's been coming for a few years now, where I've felt the need to manage my cricket a bit. Firstly, my goal is the 2019 World Cup. We haven't won a trophy like that in an ICC event before. So my focus has changed over the years. Looking at my age - I'm 33 now and probably will not continue to play for another 10 years - so my chances of winning a World Cup are becoming lesser. There are a few things that stand in my way to get to that World Cup - physical fitness, mental freshness, time with the family, time at home, things like that. For me to stay stay healthy until 2019, I decided that what's hardest on my body is Test cricket.Tests over the last few years have physically challenged me a bit, so I felt that I just needed to get away from that format a little bit.
On closing in on to 10,000 runs in Tests
I mean no disrespect to anyone who has ever achieved that. But it means absolutely zero to me to achieve 10,000 runs. I don't care about that at all.
On managing workload
I haven't played a lot, but coming back against New Zealand I still played alright. It's not easy, but it's a great challenge to get away from the game and then to work hard and work your way back. I've found inspiration through a lot of athletes who have done that in the past. I think of (Rafa) Nadal. The way he's come back has inspired me a lot. I'm still motivated to play for as long as possible, and as long as that motivation is there mentally, nothing is going to stop me. is there mentally, nothing i On work-life balance Preparing for games, the game itself, time with family...it's really important to get that balance right. It's something I probably haven't got right over the last 3-4 years. Therefore, I'm sitting with a couple of injuries. I am getting that balance now. I feel really happy. You can see in the park, I've got a smile on my face again, which might not have been clear in the last few years.
Is Test cricket facing an existential crisis?
The way T20 has hit the ground, it was always going to be a challenge for Test cricket to keep people involved and interested. But the ICC has got it right in the last few years. There's been some unbelievable Test cricket played over the last 5-7 years. Some games I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I've no doubt in my mind that the format is here to stay, forever hopefully. As a player, I know it's the real challenge and the real test for a player. If you can survive in Test cricket, then you know you can play the game.
Could the importance of ODI cricket decline?
Hopefully not, because I still want to win a World Cup. Hopefully it doesn't go away. (Once we win the World Cup) then it can go. I'm kidding (laughs). I think the three formats are unique and completely different. It's a beautiful format. I wouldn't like to see it go anywhere.
Will you reconsider wicket-keeping?
Definitely not. I'll miss the next five years if I start 'keeping again. My back won't allow that.
On Kohli's growth as a leader
At the start when people mentioned that he has leadership qualities and might become a captain one day I doubted it. I thought he was emotional with his reactions. I think he has found a way to deal with it. He is still an emotional character, he loves winning and is very passionate but he has found a way to manage and control that. I know he is a great asset for Indian cricket, he leads exceptionally well. He has showed he has skills with his captaincy and has taken all the doubters and showed them he can conquer anything. He did not have the best of series (against Australia) with the bat but what stood out was his leadership.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...to-me-ab-de-villiers/articleshow/58059708.cms
