Published: Jul 15, 2013, 04:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 15, 2013, 04:48 PM (IST)
AB de Villiers has been played the role of floater in the South African batting order in the recent past © Getty Images
Johannesburg: Jul 15, 2013
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers is expected to bat at the No 4 position in One-Day Internationals (ODI) and open the innings in Twenty20 for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
In the recent past, de Villiers has played at different positions based on the situation despite being regarded as South Africa’s most dangerous limited-overs batsman.
“I think we’ll see a more constant batting order and I’m a number four batsman,” De Villiers said at the OR Tambo International Airport, a few hours before their departure for Sri Lanka on Sunday night, as reported by iol.co.za
“We played around a bit with the batting order because of circumstances in some games, but there are a lot of batsmen in the squad and we’re waiting for guys to put their hands up in the top-order. We’re waiting for guys to make those places their own,” he added.
Current T20 skipper Faf du Plessis confirmed that he wanted de Villiiers to open the batting in the shortest format of the game.
“The plan is for AB to open, I really like him up front,” Du Plessis said.
“He’s one of the world’s best batsmen and he has time up front to really do some damage.”
Talking about South Africa’s disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2013 campaign, de Villiers said, “We know there’s lots of room for improvement and I can tell you more than 10 things we learnt from the Champions Trophy.”
“But it basically boils down to playing the big moments better. Against England in the semi-final we were found wanting, we got down under pressure and we need to get better in those situations,” he added.
Meanwhile, du Plessis said that he had his eyes set on the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh.
“It’s important that we play a lot in those conditions with the World Cup in Bangladesh next year and it’s nice to see that we’re playing three T20s,” du Plessis said.
“The more we play, the more chance it gives me just to learn as captain and it’s more opportunities for the younger players. And the more we are placed in certain situations out there, the better.”
South Africa will play five ODIs and three T20 internationals in Sri Lanka, with the first ODI in Colombo on Saturday.
South Africa ODI squad: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, David Wiese.
Fixtures
July 20 — first ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo).
July 23 — second ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo).
July 26 — third ODI (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy).
July 28 — fourth ODI (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy).
July 31 — fifth ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo).
August 2 — first T20 (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo).
August 4 — second T20 (Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota).
August 6 — third T20 (Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota).
