De Villiers quashes retirement talk

South Africa batsman AB de Villiers has dismissed speculation he is poised to retire from Test cricket.

But the 32-year-old, who has 21 centuries to his name from 106 Tests and averages 50.46, has conceded he may have to make “certain choices” to achieve his dream of being fit for the 2019 World Cup in England.

De Villiers has been struggling with a long-term elbow injury that has seen him out of action since mid-2016.

He stood down from the Test captaincy after a Faf du Plessis-led side completed a memorable 2-1 series victory against Australia in December.

De Villiers has 24 tons to his name in the 50-over format and was in charge as South Africa claimed a heartbreaking semi-final loss to New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

South Africa has never won cricket’s showpiece event – and has failed to qualify for a final – despite being a perennial contender and boasting talent-laden squads featuring greats such as Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Hashim Amla.

South Africa also made the semi-finals in the 1999 and 2007 World Cups and famously bombed out in the group stage on home turf in 2003.

"I'm not retiring out of Test cricket, I'm not retiring out of any format, that's for sure. I am not prepared to do that," ESPN reported him telling South African radio station 702 on Tuesday.

"My main aim is to get to that 2019 World Cup and I am going to do everything possible to get there.

“It's important to play the other formats but, mentally and physically, I need to be in a good space come the 2019 World Cup and that's what I am aiming for. I know it’s still a long way away and it's all about managing that really well in order for me to get there.

"I am going to have to make certain choices. It's not easy for me. I have always been the go-ahead guy, the team man, never want to miss a game for South Africa and I still do, but the schedules these days, it's really tough to play all formats, especially at the age of 32, when most cricketers don't go past the age of 35.

“If you do the math, it takes to me to 2019, 2020 at the most. Hopefully by then I will still be fit and be there to lift the trophy with the boys."

De Villiers has recovered from his elbow issue sufficiently to make his return in South Africa's domestic 50-over competition and is scheduled to play his first match on Sunday.

He is South Africa's one-day international captain, and could be back in Proteas colours for the third T20 match against Sri Lanka, ahead of an ODI series.

"I've had this elbow injury for a while now but I am fully fit again and I am playing in that last T20 in Cape Town on the 25th and then in the ODIs," de Villiers said.

"I am really excited to get going."

Speculation about de Villiers’ future in the five-day format was generated by comments from du Plesiss and South Africa coach Russell Domingo.

"I'm not sure how AB will feel in terms of Test cricket so we will have to see," du Plessis said after South Africa’s Test series victory over Sri Lanka.

"We are excited to have him back in the one-day team. I am hoping he decides to play (Tests) for us.

"He is obviously a world-class batter and I, as a captain, would love to have him as a leader in our team, and obviously as a batter. He is a fantastic player.

"He hasn't played for a while. The plan was for him to play in this series and then the one-dayers start, but now we will see what AB's plans are – whether he wants to play.”

Domingo said team officials would discuss his playing future with de Villiers.

"We need to sit down with him and plan his future," Domingo said.

"AB has got to make that decision, I can't decide on whether he plays or not.

"When I say that, I mean AB has got to make the decision about whether he is available and the selectors have got to make the decision whether he plays.

"He has obviously got to make some decision about his future in cricket."

If de Villiers did pull the pin on a Test career that has netted him 8,074 runs in 106 matches in more than 12 years, it would put KFC Big Bash clubs on high alert.

De Villiers was heavily courted by the Sydney Thunder after their BBL|05 win following the retirements of Michael Hussey and Jaques Kallis, a close friend of de Villiers.