De Villiers 'ready' for Test captaincy

[NeonNinja]

AB de Villiers has declared himself "ready" to take over as South Africa's Test captain but admitted he would prefer to give up the wicket-keeping gloves if entrusted with the role. Having already captained in both the Twenty20 and ODI formats, neither of which he is currently behind the stumps for, de Villiers has realised the dangers of being overburdened and wants to avoid the same at Test level unless absolutely necessary.

"Preferably I wouldn't like to do the keeping job if I am captain," de Villiers said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. "It will be very difficult to juggle all of that together. But if I have to do all of it... I have never shied away from a challenge. It will be a great challenge to be a captain and to do whatever they want me to do."

De Villiers is considered the front-runner for the job Graeme Smith vacated in March this year after more than a decade in charge of the national team. If de Villiers is given the job but asked to hand over the gloves, one of Thami Tsolekile or Quinton de Kock will take over behind the stumps. Tsolekile lost his national contract in February but is still considered the official reserve while de Kock, who keeps in ODIs and T20s and has played one Test, is thought of as a long-term successor much like de Villiers was earmarked as Smith's heir.

More: http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/744955.html

Not sure if I concur, but seemingly all for it, as I don't see anyone else apt ATM...

 

[Devill]

AB de Villiers has declared himself "ready" to take over as South Africa's Test captain but admitted he would prefer to give up the wicket-keeping gloves if entrusted with the role. Having already captained in both the Twenty20 and ODI formats, neither of which he is currently behind the stumps for, de Villiers has realised the dangers of being overburdened and wants to avoid the same at Test level unless absolutely necessary.

Bring in De Kock for no 7 Bat and be done with this. No one else has put up their hand for the captaincy.

 

[Wall]

Hashim Amla has made himself available for consideration for the job of South Africa's next Test captain. ESPNcricinfo understands Amla, who gave up the the vice-captaincy of the limited-overs teams in February last year, has had a change of heart about leadership and has informed the selection panel that he can be considered for the role.

That brings to four the number of candidates who will be considered to replace Graeme Smith, who retired in March. While AB de Villiers, who announced his readiness to lead in an interview last week, and Faf du Plessis are considered front-runners for the job, with JP Duminy being talked about as an outside possibility, Amla's interest in the role adds a new dimension to the debate because he has been spoken about as a preferred choice in the past.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/745753.html

 

[Devill]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/745753.html

Wow, I think Amla might be an even better choice than AB. never thought he would want to lead though as he has turned down the captaincy of the ODI team more than once iirc.

 

[Devill]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2014/content/current/story/748367.html

South African need a leader who can unite the team as it heads towards its biggest transition in more than a decade, according to two former conveners of selectors.

If Mike Procter, who headed the committee from 2008 to 2010, was still in charge, AB de Villiers would get the job. But if it was up to Rushdie Magiet, who was at the helm from 1999 to 2002, Hashim Amla would be the man. What both men agree on, though, is that Faf du Plessis has faded from contention ahead of next week's announcement.

"AB is such a good team guy and people look up to him. If you are the captain, you need to be able to lead from the front and he will do that," Procter told ESPNcricinfo.