http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 ready to keep wickets for the Proteas – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers, the South African wicketkeeper/batsman, is all set to take Mark Boucher’s place behind the stumps and feels that the additional responsibility will not hamper his performance with the bat.
After losing their ace cricketer in a tragic manner, the Proteas team management is in a dilemma to include http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thami-Tsolekile-c2662 in the playing-XI, or to play an extra batsman by handing over the keeping gloves to the limited-overs skipper, who is a more than
handy at that job.
De Villiers, who is considered to be one of the best batsmen in present-day cricket, started his career as a keeper, before cementing his place in the national team purely as a middle-order batsman.
Ahead of the practice match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canterbury-c775, De Villiers expressed that keeping wickets in limited-overs internationals and also for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League has prepared him to take up the role permanently in Test
cricket.
The 28-year-old admitted that he cannot replace Boucher, who is one of the best of the history, but vowed to do an efficient job in the upcoming series, with the number one Test ranking in his team’s sight.
"They're huge boots to fill, obviously, if not the best. I'm a little bit undercooked when it comes to Test wicketkeeping but I've had a lot of experience, in IPL, T20, ODIs for my country and my keeping has improved a lot over the last few years,” said
De Villiers.
The right-hander is South Africa’s most potent force in the middle-order and some believe that keeping wickets will put additional burden on his shoulders, which may result in a decline in his batting form.
The Pretorian however, expressed that he is more comfortable behind the stumps as compared to the outfield, where the fielders have to do a lot of running.
"I rest a bit more when I keep, I really do," he added. "The only thing I have to look after is my back - that takes quite a bit of stress when I'm keeping. But you don't run a lot as a wicketkeeper. I'm at point and, during a big partnership."
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