Proteas get timely batting boost

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The Proteas have been given a much needed boost with the news that AB de Villiers is fit again and returns to the squad for the remaining three ODIs.

De Villiers was sidelined by an injury sustained while fielding in the slips during the third Test against India at the Wanderers.

Since then the Proteas have also lost skipper Faf du Plessis (finger) and wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock (wrist) to injuries in the first two ODIs.

The batting has been particularly poor from the Proteas in the current series with the home side twice being bowled out for less than 200 as India romped to an unbeatable 3-0 lead.

With Hashim Amla and David Miller struggling for form the Proteas desperately need big runs in their middle order.

De Villiers is likely to assume the mantle of number three, a position occupied by three different batsmen in this series to date.

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In the first ODI Du Plessis scored a brilliant captain’s ton but his injury marked a sharp downturn in batting fortunes with stand-in skipper Aiden Markram taking on the role at Supersport Park before JP Duminy’s fifty at first drop at Newlands.

The biggest boost to the Proteas will be De Villiers ability to play spin and they will hope he can find a way to attack Yuzvnedra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

The fourth ODI of the series is the sold out pink game at the Wanderers, since its inception the Proteas have not lost a Pink ODI.

ODI squad: Aiden Markram (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk).

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