AB de Villiers: England have weaknesses in their batting which we can expose

London Evening Standard

Exclusive: South Africa star explains why he believes his side will win the Test series and how they can get the better of ‘world class’ Root

AB de Villiers is widely seen as the most gifted striker of a cricket ball in the world.

The South African’s talents were recognised again today as he was named the ICC’s ODI Player of the Year for the second season in a row after his brilliant quickfire batting lit up the World Cup.

However, over the next month it is De Villiers’s magnificence in the Test arena that will be of concern to England as they prepare to face his side in a four-match series.

South Africa are No1 in the Test rankings and England are fifth but the hosts have just suffered a 3-0 defeat in India, their heaviest in nine years.

Allan Donald, a great of Proteas and world cricket, admits he is “nervous” ahead of the series which starts on Boxing Day in Durban.

However, when I ask De Villiers how the four Tests will pan out he says without hesitation: “I see us winning 2-1.”