Bend the rules and bring AB back for the World Cup? Why not?

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis says he warned de Villiers that his U-turn on his retirement was just too late (1:25) June 5, Southampton The South African contingent was strong: led by Graeme Smith and including Mike Procter and the aforementioned Richards.Forty years ago in June, West Indies beat England in the 1979 World Cup final. The years of isolation hid many a fine cricketer from view; our verdict was that Barry Richards, Jimmy Cook, Peter Kirsten , Graeme Pollock, Allan Lamb, Clive Rice, Mike Procter, Garth Le Roux, Ray Jennings, Vince Van der Bijl and either Alan Kourie or Denys Hobson would have provided the sternest test for Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, Lloyd, Collis King, Deryck Murray, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Colin Croft.Thoughts of which made South Africa's underwhelming performance against India all the more disappointing. Four years ago, under de Villiers' leadership, they made the semi-final against New Zealand, but the night before the game were forced by the selectors into changing the team, an incident that festers to this day.Like it or not, and whatever the validity of the reason, de Villiers chose to retire from international cricket little more than a year ago. The truth is that South Africa have a good collection of cricketers but they have played pretty badly.Today was make or break and du Plessis losing the toss was a bad start. Initially, I didn't think much of his showy salute upon taking a wicket but I've come to quite enjoy it.ALSO READ: Mark Nicholas' World Cup diary # 1: Brearley's lecture, Warne's diet, and Mickey's love for PakistanHis victims won't agree, of course, but the game looks very different from outside the dressing room, an unarguable fact that has been the case since Alfred Shaw first bowled to Charlie Bannerman in Melbourne in March 1877. For the dreamers, and for those who stay in, bowl straight and catch their catches, the World Cup remains in reach.Witness Pakistan, the team that won so gloriously in 1992; the team that after five games had won just one, lost three and, having been bowled out for 74 by England, were saved by the rain.