WC 2015: Thanks for the amazing entertainment, Pat Symcox writes in an open letter to AB de Villiers

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bengaluru, March 25: Former South African cricketer Pat Symcox on Wednesday wrote an open letter to AB de Villiers, the captain of the South African team that got knocked out from the 2015 cricket World Cup by New Zealand in Auckland, asking him and his team not to lose heart after the defeat.

Symcox, who was a spinner during his playing days, said in the letter addressed to de Villiers: "Let me assure you that sitting watching the game from a distance, and having been in that cauldron situation myself, I fully comprehend the deep down, inner-burning hurt feeling you are experiencing. I understand the anguish having not reached your final goal, but sometimes in life it isn't all about the final win. Someone once said, "When the great scorer comes to judge, he judges not on how many runs you made but how you played the game"."

The South African players were left in tears after they failed to clear yet another semi-final hurdle in the World Cup. The Proteas made a spirited effort on the field trying to stop the Kiwis achieve the target of 298 in a rain-hit match but in vain.

Symcox, who played in the 1996 World Cup in the sub-continent, praised the South African batsman for his batting performance (482 runs in 8 innings at an average of 96.40) and called him as the best batsman in the world.

"Get home, unpack, spend quality time with your precious lady and loves ones and then hit the golf course and relax. Life goes on after every loss and after every win - something you truly realise once your playing days are over," Symcox, 54, said.

Oneindia News