AB de Villiers in Line to Play Warm-Up Game Against Zimbabwe in a Bid to Make a Test Return

South Africa star AB de Villiers is likely to play in a three-day match for the South African Invitation XI against Zimbabwe next month to make his much-awaited return to the Test side.

Before locking horns against South Africa in the inaugural four-day day-night Test starting Boxing Day, Zimbabwe will play a three-day practice match in Paarl from December 20 to 22 in which de Villiers could be seen in action.

Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors, made it clear the selectors are keen to have the former skipper back in the Test team and hinted the batting star is likely to play the warm-up game to press his claim for a place in the side.

“We’d like to get him back in whites as soon as possible, and we have some plans in place. There’s the practice match which will be good for him,” Zondi told ESPNcricinfo.

But while the performance in the warm-up game will present his case for the Test side, Zondi said the management is convinced that de Villiers is ready after his performances in recent times. The right-handed batsman has scored 130 runs in three games of the ongoing Ram Slam T20 challenge including a 19-ball 50 against Highveld Lions.

“The manner in which he has played has shown that he is ready. It was never a case of him being rusty but just about getting him match fitness,” Zondi said.

De Villiers had not played in Tests since the series at home against England in January last year. Since then he had missed the series against Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England and most recently Bangladesh due to injuries and a lengthy self-imposed sabbatical from Tests.

However, in August, he stepped down as South Africa’s ODI skipper and made himself available for selection in all the three formats and is now looking set to return to the Test team soon.

“I’ve had time at home to get fresh, time to work on my body, and time to work on skills I’ve not worked on in many years,” de Villiers had said. “I’ve sort of rediscovered that love of the game. I’ve not had an off-season where I’ve gone to nets to work on my skills and technique for ages. Last year, in the peak of the season, I was less ready for Test cricket than I am now.”

Meanwhile, de Villiers’ return to the Test team is going to give the team management a lot to ponder about him over how to include him in the playing eleven. During the recent series against Bangladesh, South Africa played six specialist batsmen – Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock. In such a case, it will be tough for the team-management to bring back de Villiers in the playing eleven but if it happens, then Bavuma looks the most likely to make way for the returning star.

Speaking about the puzzle, Zondi said:

“For us as selectors, it’s about getting him into the squad and then it will be worked out from there. It’s a nice problem to have.“

Meanwhile, with skipper Faf du Plessis currently being sidelined with a back injury, de Villiers can be slotted in the team if the former does not regain his fitness in time. Well, it will be interesting to see the team management’s decision over de Villiers when the Proteas take on world number one India in a three-Test series, starting in January.

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