de Villiers opts out of NZ Test series

South African batting star A.B. de Villiers said on Tuesday he had decided not to make himself available for a Test series in New Zealand in March but stressed that he had not retired from Test cricket. de Villiers, who turns 33 next month, said his main goal for the rest of his career was to lead South Africa at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. “We haven’t won a World Cup yet,” said de Villiers, who is captain of the South African one-day team. “For me, for now, the most important thing is the 2019 World Cup. I want to make sure we get there. I want to make sure we lift that trophy. I feel that if I play all formats all the time, then mentally and physically I won’t be at my best.” Speaking at a launch for a one-day series against Sri Lanka, de Villiers said he was available for five one-day games in New Zealand next month but would return home before the first of three Tests starts on March 8. de Villiers is recovering from a long-term elbow injury which has kept him out of action since July. He is due to make a low-key comeback in a one-day match for the Northerns provincial team on Sunday. But he said he had recovered fully and would play in the third of three Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka in Cape Town on January 25 before captaining South Africa in a five-match ODI series against the Sri Lankans. Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said he hoped de Villiers would be available for four Tests in England starting in July. — AFP