Hashim Amla: How will his stepping down reduce AB de Villiers' workload?

After playing a fine 201-run knock against England, Amla stepped down as South African Test skipper.

New Delhi: In the last few weeks, there have been a lot of talks about AB de Villiers' workload and how the flamboyant right-hander was contemplating retirement from Tests after the England tour.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, an Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport, carried a news saying several of de Villiers' current and former team-mates have said that too much of cricket is forcing him to think about continue playing in all formats of the game.

While all of us agreed with it, since apart from representing his country across formats, AB also plays all matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL), it is beyond ones understanding how Hashim Amla's decision to step down as South Africa's Test skipper will do any good to de Villiers.

De villiers was named Proteas' new Test skipper on Wednesday soon after Amla stepped down.

“I’ve said this before that it is an incredible honour to captain South Africa in any format. The captaincy has obviously come at short notice and is the realisation of a lifelong dream,” De Villiers, already South Africa’s ODI captain, said in a statement.

The right-hander will now lead South Africa into the last two tests against England, starting next week in Johannesburg.

It remains to be seen whether his 'lifelong dream' will take its toll on his batting performance.