Long break from Tests

AB de VILLIERS

AB de Villiers still has many goals he wants to achieve in Test cricket but none of those will be realised on the fields around England this winter.

After saying Tuesday that we had withdrawn from the three-match Test series in New Zealand which will be played in March, De Villiers confirmed Wednesday that he would not play in the four Tests against England in July and August this year either.

Cricket South Africa had hoped that De Villiers would make himself available for that series, but De Villiers said that he simply was not ready. He also does not want to play the two Tests against Bangladesh in September.

 “It was not an easy decision,” De Villiers said about withdrawing from the England Test series. “I'm just not ready. My priorities have changed over the years, I've played for 12-odd years, family has changed, my roles in the teams have changed over the years. A lot of things played a role in this decision. I wouldn't like to think it's the end, I still want to finish on a high.

De Villiers added that he was not focused on anything before the Test series against Australia next year, meaning he may sit out the Bangladesh series in September this year.