AB De Villiers: "I think we've got a side to go all the way"
Twenty20 World Cup
/
Ed Hawkins /
03 June 2009 /
As the T20 World Cup prepares to bowl off, Betfair had a one-off rendez-vous with South African superstar fielder and top notch willowman AB De Villiers. Ed Hawkins asked the questions.
You scored 465 runs in the IPL. How important will that experience be?
I had a good time back in South Africa for sure. It was a good confidence booster for me to score runs and play a part in the Delhi team which did well. Hopefully I can keep playing the way I have and follow the same gameplan.
What is the gameplan?
It's not difficult. See the ball and hit it.
You have been playing almost continuous cricket for a year and your captain, Graeme Smith, said he was concerned about fatigue. Is it a problem?
It has been a long season but I honestly don't think it's a big problem. It's only a two-week tournament. We had a bit of a break before coming to England and we've got a decent one after so it's not a worry. We'll only play a maximum of seven games if we go all the way so let's get on with it. It's going to be enjoyable so when you have a smile on your face you're not thinking 'I've been playing almost non-stop'.
How far can South Africa go in this tournament?
I think we've got a side to do go all the way. There's very good balance to the team. We need to get the mental side right because I think everyone is happy with their form. It would be great to take a trophy back home. A big trophy from the ICC has eluded us so this is a big chance.
Will the players who played in the IPL have an advantage?
I think IPL players will have an advantage. The guys learnt quite a lot in South Africa, especially because of the conditions. There was a bit of movement similar to the sort we can expect in England and the scores were not as high as they were in India last year so players had to adapt. It nips around every now and then in England so those IPL guys have more confidence.
And does that mean that those who didn't play in the IPLwill be slow starters?
Not necessarily. Most of the guys playing at this level will adapt. The guys have a lot of skill whether they've been playing or not. But definitely there is a bit more confidence for the IPL guys.
Were you surprised that Paul Collingwood, the England captain, couldn't get a game for Delhi?
That was pretty tough. The problem is you have nine or 10 overseas players and only four are allowed to play. We were winning and on a good run so it was tough to change things. When you have a winning mentality it is rare to change the side.
Collingwood said he took a great deal from the IPL by asking the advice of those players who did play. What did he ask you?
He didn't really ask me a lot of questions. We just had a few drinks and had a good time together. He's been playing a lot longer than me. He's good player and I rate him so hopefully he'll do well in the tournament.
Any weaknesses for South Africa?
Get used to the conditions, that's the key. But there are no areas we need to work on. The guys are in good form; batting, bowling and fielding well. There's always room for improvement. It's just a matter of getting out there and executing the skills.
How important will spinners be?
Definitely the spinners will play a big part. It's all about variation. We've got a couple in our team and we've got a left-hand and right-hand opening bowling combination. That is good. We need that difference in case the ball is travelling over the boundary. That's why the spinners are important. They take the pace off the ball and make the batter force it. On the other hand the spinner needs to know how to control his length and line, otherwise they will get picked off.