De Villiers has already admitted that being in the outfield is much harder

South Africa ODI captain AB de Villiers has announced that he will be giving up wicketkeeping in limited overs matches since he is unable to deal with the burden of having to stand behind the stumps, come in as a specialist batsman and lead the team all at once.

This is the first time de Villiers has admitted to being overburdened, as in the past he would just carry on keeping without saying a word.

“I have always felt a bit rushed trying to captain the side and keep wicket,” de Villiers said. “I will probably stand at mid-off and be able to communicate with my bowlers a lot better as well as get a better perspective of the game.”

During the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 last September, de Villiers re-aggravated an old back and ankle injury, but continued to don the gloves, stating that it was something he was born to do.

The injuries he sustained required him to sit on the sidelines for three weeks, but de Villiers still believes the price is nothing compared to the joy he got out of keeping and captaining his country.

“I don’t believe there is too much on my plate; I really enjoy the captaincy and batting and keeping,” de Villiers said. “It’s what I am going to do. If I miss out on a year of my career, so be it.”

After veteran keeper Mark Boucher was forced to retire due to a freak eye injury in a warm-up match against Somerset, South Africa convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson noted that de Villiers had initially been hesitant about taking up the position as wicketkeeper, but soon “changed his mind” after finding out that it was perfectly suited for him.

In fact, de Villiers has enjoyed keeping in Test matches so much that he even asked Hudson and the rest of the selection committee if he could stay on as the permanent wicketkeeper, to which all of them agreed.

However, having to endure long periods crouched behind the stumps will not make de Villiers’ back issues any better and it seems to have taken a toll on his batting, whereby he looks much more static at the crease and does not seem to have the ability to bat freely anymore, but that theory is still yet to be proven after his outstanding 169 against Australia during the final Test in Perth.

Even during the recently concluded series against New Zealand, de Villiers smashed two half-centuries, but both of those came in quick time as South Africa did not have to spend long at the crease to dispose of the Black Caps.

With de Villiers swapping his position behind the stumps for the outfield, Quinton de Kock has been brought in to replace him.

De Kock’s arrival will ease the strain on de Villiers’ back and coach Gary Kirsten even went on to reveal that de Villiers found keeping in ODIs “more intense” than Tests since every ball matters much more.

De Villiers also stated that being in the outfield was much harder on his body, compared to when he was just standing behind the stumps.