Fears that 'animosity' could have led to AB resignation
AB de Villiers may have indicated that he had stepped down as Proteas Test captain 'in the interests of the team' but some pundits suggest there may have been more to it than meets the eye.
The resignation of AB de Villiers as Proteas Test cricket captain has been met with mixed reaction by cricket pundits.
De Villiers has relinquished the Test captaincy in what he termed 'the interests of the team' after a lengthy period spent on the sidelines recovering from an elbow injury.
He has also been ruled out of the upcoming three-Test Series against Sri Lanka, but looks set to return to action by the end of January when the Proteas engage the Sri Lankans in a best of five ODI Series.
Faf du Plessis, who has been interim captain of the team in De Villiers' absence, has led the team to back-to-back ODI and Test series victories over Australia, the latter being away from home.
He last led the team in January when he was at the helm for two Tests against England, having succeeded Hashim Amla as skipper, but missed subsequent series' against New Zealand and Australia.
But former Proteas fast bowler and television cricket pundit Fanie de Villiers suggests that there may be 'something cooking behind the scenes we don't know about'.
Although they have been friends from back in their high school days at Afrikaanse Seuns Hoërskool in Pretoria, Vinnige Fanie fears there may have been animosity between the two.
Du Plessis, who until the end of last summer, failed to hold down a regular place in the starting Test side, has thrived in the temporary role and never hidden his ambitions to continue captaining the Proteas' Test outfit.
"I don't think continuity plays a role. I don't think you need to bank on continuity if you can have a better captain and a better player in the system with experience," says the former Proteas seamer.
Former Proteas spinner Pat Symcox, who is involved in media work for overseas television networks as a commentator, believes De Villiers has made a good call, but is puzzled at the timing of the announcement.
Right until Cricket South Africa made AB's decision public, National Selection Convener Linda Zondi had been talking up the Proteas kingpin's captaincy. But Symcox suspects there may have been mounting calls behind the scenes
for him to step down.
Symcox shared a common school of thought that AB is a very busy 'Jonty Rhodes-type player' and whether batting, fielding or taking the wicketkeeping gloves, he appears to thrive without the added shackles of captaincy.
Statistics shows that AB suffered a marked dip in personal form during his brief tenure as Test captain.
"I am not detracting from his ability as a captain and make no mistake, he is a huge asset to the game - a genius of world cricket -- but he seems more settled when he has the freedom to play his own game," says Symcox.