South Africa cricket team coach Russell Domingo is resolute over his decision that he does not want batsman AB de Villiers committing to his role as a wicket keeper for the team in ODIs, as the World Cup draws near.
De Villiers put on the gloves in the first two Tests in place of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who injured his ankle in a warm-up session on day three of the first Test in Centurion on December 19.
De Kock’s injury was said to take six to 12 weeks to heal, placing the wicketkeeper-batsman in doubt for the World Cup starting in February, Sport24 reported.
Domingo said that in the ODI set-up, De Villiers found keeping much more tiring than in Tests, adding that it’s a big burden on the batsman in one days because of the captaincy, and being the so-called best batter in one-day cricket.
Domingo, whose side drew the rain-hit second Test against the West Indies in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, said that he would prefer De Villiers not to keep in one-day cricket, there’s no doubt about that.
He added that if the skipper has got to keep in the odd Test match, so be it.
Domingo claimed that he doesn’t believe it to be a long-term solution, adding that it is maybe just when the incumbent De Kock is not fit.
Ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, Domingo was reluctant to name Morne van Wyk as the obvious replacement, even though he is the only other wicketkeeper left in the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
Domingo claimed that he needs to sit with the selectors, adding that there’s definitely times when De Villiers is going to have to keep. He said that for the balance of their side it’s a good thing for the skipper to keep.
—ANI