De Villiers back in SA team for Lanka ODIs

durban — South Africa’s batting talisman AB de Villiers has returned the country’s One-Day International (ODI) squad as captain for the five-match series against Sri Lanka starting in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

De Villiers, who has been out of action for six months owing to an elbow injury, will regain the captaincy from Faf du Plessis, who had been the skipper in his absence, and had famously led the Proteas to a 5-0 clean sweep series win over Australia in a five-match series in October last year. Du Plessis has subsequently been named South Africa’s long-term Test captain.

De Villiers will make his international comeback in the third and final Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Cape Town on Wednesday before resuming his one-day international career. He had last played an ODI in June 2016, prior to sustaining the elbow injury.

“It is wonderful to have AB back available both as player and leader,” Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement on Monday.

“We are entering a very important phase of our preparation for the Champions Trophy in England as we only have 10 games left – the five here against Sri Lanka and another five in New Zealand – before we head for another major ICC event.”

Also back in the one-day squad after a long injury lay-off is allrounder Chris Morris. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is the only newcomer to one-day internationals after taking six wickets in the first two Twenty20 internationals. Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were not considered because of injury.