Johannesburg, Jan 17 (CRICKETNMORE): Fuelling talk that he might call it a day in Test cricket, South African star batsman AB de Villiers pulled out of the upcoming series in New Zealand in March, although saying this was not a retirement call.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Not yet. I'm not there yet," de Villiers was quoted as saying by ESPN on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The reason being that I just need to settle things in my head. Over the last few years something has come to mind, which is the fact that we haven't won a World Cup yet. And for me to make it to the 2019 World Cup, I can't really be serious in every format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So I've made myself unavailable for the New Zealand Test series. I will be there for the ODIs, and I'm definitely not retiring from Test cricket because I have plans to come back at some stage," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: India maintains No.1 Position in ICC Test Rankings<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n De Villiers said he wanted to focus on the 2019 World Cup ahead of everything else at present.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "For me, for now the most important thing is the 2019 World Cup. I want to make sure we get there, I want to make sure we lift that trophy. Obviously there are other factors that play a role like family and time away from home, but the main reason for me is that World Cup and I feel that if I play all formats all the time, then mentally and physically I won't be at my best."<\/p>\r\n\r\n He had earlier told South African radio station 702 that he was "not retiring out of Test cricket."<\/p>\r\n\r\n De Villiers has recovered from his elbow injury to make his comeback in his side's domestic 50-over competition and is scheduled to play his first match on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n