Published: Jan 09, 2016, 06:26 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 09, 2016, 06:26 PM (IST)
Johannesburg: Former South African skipper Kepler Wessels believes that swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers is completely comfortable with the new job of the Test skipper.He also asserted that Amla’s decision to step down as the South Africa Test skipper should be respected, Sport24 reported. Reflecting his views on new captain, Wessels said that De Villiers was very comfortable with the added responsibility, as the new role would energise him and provide him with a renewed vigour. Amla had stepped down as Proteas Test skipper after the conclusion of the drawn second Test against England at Newlands. FULL SCORECARD: South Africa vs England, 3rd Test at Johannesburg
The 58-year-old further insisted that Amla’s resignation as skipper would allow him to focus on scoring runs for his side. Describing Amla as a `key member` of the South African squad, Wessels said that the amount of runs he scores hold immense importance to the team. Amla resigned as South Africa’s Test skipper at the end of second Test of the four-match Test series against England at Cape Town. The match where Ben Stokes scored a 198-ball 258 followed by Amla’s 201 runs eventually ended in a draw.
Amla’s reign as captain saw the Proteas lose their first away series in nine years, when they were thrashed 3-0 by India recently. In his 14 matches as skipper, Amla managed tot guide South Africa to four wins, four losses and six draws. According to a Cricket South Africa statement, Amla decided to step down before the second Test and told his teammates about the decision only at the end of the match. “I felt someone else could do a better job,” he told journalists, adding that he had been thinking about resigning for several weeks.
