CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – AB de Villiers has resigned as South Africa’s test captain, opening the way for childhood friend Faf du Plessis to take over on a permanent basis.
De Villiers, 32, has been struggling with an elbow injury for six months and is out of the three-match home test series against Sri Lanka that starts on Dec. 26.
“The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual including me,” he said in a Cricket South Africa news release yesterday.
Du Plessis was praised for leading South Africa to a 2-1 test series victory in Australia last month in the absence of De Villiers but was found guilty of tampering with the ball in the second test in Hobart, a verdict he will appeal against on Dec. 19.
De Villiers was appointed captain in January following the resignation of Hashim Amla but led the side in just two tests against England at the start of the year, and also missed a home series win over New Zealand in August.
“It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the test side but I have missed two series,” said De Villiers.
“Following the squad’s outstanding performances in Australia, it is clearly in the greater interests of the team that Faf du Plessis should be confirmed as permanent test captain.