De Villiers Steps Down as SA Test Captain, Replaced by Du Plessis

AB De Villiers’ time as captain spanned just two tests.

AB de Villiers has resigned as South Africa’s Test captain. (Photo: AP)

AB de Villiers stepped down as South Africa's test captain on Monday, a decision prompted by his prolonged absence through injury and the success of stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis on the victorious tour of Australia.

Following De Villiers' announcement, when he also said that Du Plessis should be his successor, Cricket South Africa confirmed Du Plessis as the new captain.

The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual, including me. It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the test side, but I have missed two series.... 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 the permanent test captain.

AB De Villiers

De Villiers took over captaincy at the beginning of the year after Hashim Amla resigned. South Africa lost that series and De Villiers hasn't played a test since, missing a home series victory over New Zealand and the 2-1 win in Australia. De Villiers has also been ruled out of the three-match series against Sri Lanka starting 26 December because of an injury in his left elbow.

It means De Villiers' time as captain spanned just two tests, a seven-wicket loss to England that decided the series and a consolation 280-run win for South Africa.

It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the test side, but I have missed two series. 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 the permanent test captain.“I have known Faf for almost 20 years, ever since we played in the same school side at Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool, and he will have my unequivocal support.

De Villiers and Du Plessis are close friends. (Photo: AP)

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 19 December. The two men are close friends, having first played together in the same school team in Pretoria.

Du Plessis will be the third permanent captain for South Africa since the retirement of long-serving Graeme Smith in March 2014.

(With inputs from AP and Reuters)