AB feeling the love

27 February 2015 - 02:35 By Telford Vice in Sydney
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FLIP IT! AB de Villiers after being run out against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday
FLIP IT! AB de Villiers after being run out against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday
Image: QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES

As a proper Pretoria boy, raised from solid Afrikaner stock, schooled at Affies and married in the bushveld, AB de Villiers does not do touchy-feely.

So he squirmed uneasily in his chair when he was asked yesterday whether he had read the open letter former New Zealand batsman Martin Crowe wrote to him, and which was published by ESPN Cricinfo on Wednesday.

"Yeah, I did read it," De Villiers said with a polite smile.

"It's quite interesting - some valuable points made, and some points that are not so valuable.

"But I think it comes from a good place, and that makes me want to read it and want to take the good points.

"So point taken, and what can I say? Just thank him for that, for the input, and hopefully we'll make some of the points count that he mentioned in there."

Later, in Afrikaans, De Villiers said: "It sounds like he's talking from his heart, and when a man talks from his heart you should listen because it's important."

Crowe's letter begins with his earlier prediction that the Proteas would win the World Cup, and by telling De Villiers "don't be sad" about the fact that his team have "looked pretty ordinary at times".

He also makes the point that "any success of the highest order is down to bold, courageous leadership".

So far, so fair enough. But then Crowe flies off on a grandiose tangent: "You guys should know; you had one of the best of all time - Nelson Mandela. So my first little tip is to acknowledge that bold leadership is your domain. This is your time to march them out, take them home.

"The skipper in black (New Zealand's Brendon McCullum) has already assumed that role and is mounting an assault, just as Edmund Hillary did. On your side, if I were you, AB, I'd reach out and feel the presence of Madiba."

De Villiers was asked whether he had shaved after reading Crowe's thoughts. He replied that he had.

Here's why.

"Have a shave, AB, you look ragged and rattled. Smarten up.

"Since that 31-ball ton (against West Indies at the Wanderers last month), you have got a bit sloppy.

"You need to lead like never before. Take a leap of faith. Feel Mandela in your bones."

Crowe advised De Villiers to give Wayne Parnell - "a bit of a rogue [who] can go walkabout" - the new ball, and to "Get Dale [Steyn] to relax, get rid of the stunned mullet look."

He signed off with: "Respect. A big fan."

The respect is clearly mutual. But, please, no hugging.

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