IND Vs AFG: Ab De Villiers Slams India And South Africa For Only Playing A 2-Match Test Series

Former South African batter Ab De Villiers who was famously known as the Mr. 360 degree for his emphatic ability to play shots all across the ground, came forward to express his disapproval of the rise of T20 cricket which has seen the oldest format, Test cricket go down below and also blamed the policy makers for not scheduling 3 tests instead of 2.

His comments have come after the recently concluded 2-match Freedom Trophy Test series between India and South Africa which remained a 1-1 draw as the visitors defeated the Proteas by 7 wickets to pick up their first-ever victory at the Newlands Cricket Ground.

Ab De Villiers claimed that the shortest format’s skyrocketing rise all around the world is not doing justice to the longest format and affirmed that if we are to save Test cricket from extinction, something needs to happen. The former South African captain blamed all the franchise leagues in and around the world for not letting a 3-match test series happen between India and South Africa.

He further asked the higher authorities to implement a change if the best teams around the globe want to compete in tests.

“I am not happy with the fact that there’s not a third test. You have to blame the T20 cricket going around the world for that. I don’t know exactly whom to blame but I definitely sense something is wrong. If you want to see all the teams compete and see who is the best Test team in the world then something has to change.” – Ab De Villiers said.

De Villiers’ comments might also be a cryptic target towards his former employer, Cricket South Africa, who recently announced a 3rd string test team to visit New Zealand for a 2-match test series starting next month. The likes of Steve Waugh and Venkatesh Prasad among others have criticized CSA for disrespecting Test cricket and allowing all of its senior players to take part in the domestic SA T20 league which starts from January 10th.

AB De Villiers Shares His Two Cents About Controversial Newlands Pitch

The 39-year-old went on to talk and discuss the pitch that hosted the 2nd test between India and South Africa at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground. The track was all over the news for its bowler-friendly nature that saw 23 wickets fall on Day 1, 3 innings taking place, and the match itself finishing by the 2nd session of Day 2, ending up becoming the shortest-ever Test match.

Ab De Villiers stated that the Newlands track was not anything unusual but he rather felt that it was a standard South African wicket where only those batter would succeed who have immaculate shot selections.

“It was a pretty stock-standard wicket in my opinion. I remember jumping around there on Day 1. If you can just get through the 1st session on Day 1, it gets easier. If you see the players who were playing their shots and not hanging around, they were the ones doing well.” – Ab De Villiers concluded.