AB confirms ‘bit of truth’ in retirement rumours

New South African captain AB de Villiers on Wednesday said he was fully committed to leading the team in the next two Tests against England, but confirmed there was “a bit of truth” in rumours he was considering retirement.

“For two or three years I’ve been searching for the right answers to play a little less cricket in one way or another, to keep myself fresh and enjoying the game,” he said.

De Villiers, 31, admitted: “Every now and then I find I am not enjoying myself as much as I should be. I’ve been talking to a few people and obviously that’s leaked.” De Villiers was speaking ahead of the third Test against England which starts at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday -- the first time he has spoken directly to journalists since an article appeared in a local newspaper claiming he was thinking of quitting.

“I’m still very committed to the job,” he said. “The two Test matches now is all that I am focusing on. There’s a nice big break of six months before we play Test cricket again.

Lots of things can happen before then. But for now I am as committed as I can be and very hungry to make a success of these two Test matches.”

De Villiers acknowledged that big-money Twenty20 tournaments around the world were tempting for players. “I think it’s a going concern for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to find the right sort of structure to keep all the guys fresh. International cricket is the main cricket you want to play, especially Test cricket.

“There are big tournaments going on around the world and some of them you can’t ignore because financially they make a huge difference in our lives.

“But international cricket comes first and one or two things will have to happen in the future in order for that to happen.”