De Villiers back with a bang

PAARL: AB de Villiers feels he is hitting the ball as sweetly as he ever following his recent break from the South African side, an ominous sign for bowlers ahead of a busy season across all three formats.

South Africa were given a glimpse of what they have been missing as De Villiers flayed Bangladesh’s attack with stunning ease on his way to a careerbest one-day international score on Wednesday.

He smashed 176 from 104 balls, including seven towering sixes, as South Africa sealed the threematch series with a game to spare following a 104-run victory.

De Villiers had been on a selfimposed exile from the side, but announced last month he would be available again in all three formats as South Africa prepare to welcome India and Australia for respective test series in the coming months.

De Villiers hinted in the past that he may retire from test cricket to concentrate on the limited-overs game, but appears to have performed an about-turn and is now hopeful of a return to the longest format for the first time since January 2016.

“You don’t just walk into the test team. I am going to have to work my way back. I am prepared to do the hard work ,” he said.

South Africa host Zimbabwe in an inaugural four-day test starting on Boxing Day, before three matches against India in January and four versus touring Australia in March. Reuters