Stokes special says De Villiers

– South African captain AB de Villiers believes England all-rounder Ben Stokes has taken his game to the “next level” in the Indian Premier League, but stressed the tournament had improved many of his players too.

The Proteas are set to come up against Stokes in a three-match one-day international series starting next week that will act as a warm-up ahead of June’s Champions Trophy tournament in England.

Stokes struck a maiden Twenty20 century while playing for the Rising Pune Supergiant in the Twenty20 IPL and also took 12 wickets during the tournament.

England will hope the Durham star can transfer that form into 50-over cricket, beginning with Wednesday’s first ODI at Headingley.

“Stokes is a fantastic cricketer with both bat and ball,” said De Villiers at Hove this week ahead of South Africa’s tour opener against Sussex yesterday.

“He’s definitely got something special about him.

“But a few of our players who played over there have lifted their game. I faced (leg-spinner) Imran Tahir in the nets and he’s certainly stepped his game up a bit, and come up with a few new deliveries, and so has everyone else who was there.”

South Africa are currently top of the International Cricket Council’s ODI rankings but will be facing an England side who have lost only one series at home, a 3-2 defeat by world champions Australia, since their embarrassing firstround exit at the 2015 World Cup.

South Africa are in England for a three-month tour that as well as the Champions Trophy and other white-ball internationals also includes a four-Test series.

They face Northamptonshire tomorrow in their last warm-up match before the ODI series. –

London