So AB de Villiers scores a hundred against Australia and swiftly the question mark over whether he can fulfil his commitments as a top-order batsman while also keeping wicket has been removed?
Of course ending a mini run-drought with his 14th Test century at the WACA was a welcome sight. The fact that he reached the milestone in defiant fashion with three successive reverse sweeps for four underlined his ability with the bat.
No doubt AB backs himself.
“Obviously, there’s a bit of added pressure on me with the gloves in hand,” he said afterwards. “It’s been coming for a while now. Can I score runs with the gloves? Luckily I did today.”
“I honestly believe I don’t get as tired when I’m keeping. When you are in the field and running up and down, it’s really hard work and it can be mentally draining as well. When I’m keeping, I have 30 yards to run between overs and that’s it.
“I’ve got to expect the ball a bit more often but I love being in the game, it keeps me on my toes and I’m really loving having the gloves in hand.”
But surely one big innings is not enough to end the debate over whether de Villiers is able to fill the dual role for South Africa in Test cricket!
Keep in mind that before his 184-ball 169 De Villiers had not managed so much as a half-century in nine knocks and scored only 107 runs in five innings during the Aussie series.
According to former national captain Kepler Wessels, AB’s slump in batting form had nothing to do with his wicket-keeping responsibilities, but was due to a technical issue with his footwork and would have happened whether he was keeping or not.
The fact remains that the physical and mental burden of spending hours focusing on a different discipline takes its toll on a batsman.
You will not see big, considered innings from quality keepers too often (even if they have the technique) because their concentration is hampered by the strain of keeping wicket.
It’s no coincidence that AB scored his runs after spending a lot less time behind the stumps with Australia dismissed for a low score in their first innings. He will not consistently make big hundreds when he spends two days keeping, that’s for sure.
Certainly Australia’s Adam Gilchrist made plenty of huge contributions with the bat, but he was backed up by one of the greatest top-order batting line-ups of all time. This allowed Gilly to score freely and quickly and more often than not allowed him to spend minimum time at the crease.
Jacques Kallis is in his twilight and AB will soon be charged with anchoring the Proteas’ innings from the number four/five position. We need him to be at his best with the bat.
Sure, for now at least, De Villiers wearing the Test gloves assists the balance of the South African team, but the big debate should not go completely quiet.
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