AB de Villiers steps down as South Africa Test captain and is replaced by Faf du Plessis
Monday 12 December 2016 18:07, UK
AB de Villiers has stepped down as South Africa's Test captain and will be replaced by Faf du Plessis.
De Villiers was appointed in January following Hashim Amla's resignation, and led the team in two Test matches against England.
But injury forced him to miss the series against New Zealand and Australia at the beginning of the 2016/2017 season and with an elbow problem ruling him out of the forthcoming Sri Lanka series, De Villiers has made the decision to leave the role.
"The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual, including me," De Villiers said. "It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the Test side but I have missed two series and I am still in doubt for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
"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 if he is asked to continue leading this exciting Proteas Test team."
Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, said: "AB's left elbow is much improved but is still regaining the last few degrees of straightening. Fitness to play requires full range of elbow movement and this may take another three to four weeks to achieve.
"He will be unavailable for the Test series against Sri Lanka and will target a return for the ODI series starting at the end of January."
