Proteas limited overs spinner Imran Tahir said he would love to have the selection headache of not knowing when to add AB de Villiers to the ODI squad.
On Sunday, De Villiers scored a List A hundred for Northerns against Easterns in Benoni, announcing a return to the game after six months out with an elbow injury. Cricket SA confirmed he will be available for the third T20 in Cape Town tomorrow.
"If I was the captain of an international team knowing I was going to have AB back in the team, I'd probably have trouble sleeping because of excitement," Tahir said.
"That's how much of a big deal it is to have him back. That's how much we want him back in the team and I heard he batted well and is ready to play again.
"We're very excited because he's the best in the business."
While Sunday's second T20 did not go according to plan for the Proteas, Tahir was a bright spark and took advantage of the sub-continental conditions at the Wanderers. The three wicket defeat is not something that concerned Tahir, especially with the young nature of the team. He said the performances of young players like Lungi Ngidi far outweighed the negative batting display that saw the hosts skittled out for 113 in 19.4 overs.
Both Ngidi's and Tahir's tenacity made Sri Lanka's chase a tough one.
"The ODI squad is in a very good space at the moment after the clean sweep over Australia, but Sri Lanka will pose another stiff challenge," Tahir said.
Meanwhile, fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel could not be considered for the upcoming one-day international series because of injury while Ngidi is in line to win his first cap in this format.
"We have chosen this squad for the first three games only," commented CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi.
"Ngidi has been rewarded for his excellent form in the current T20 series and we are keen to see how he goes in the 50 overs format." - TMG Digital
De Villiers returns, Ngidi in ODIs
Proteas limited overs spinner Imran Tahir said he would love to have the selection headache of not knowing when to add AB de Villiers to the ODI squad.
On Sunday, De Villiers scored a List A hundred for Northerns against Easterns in Benoni, announcing a return to the game after six months out with an elbow injury. Cricket SA confirmed he will be available for the third T20 in Cape Town tomorrow.
"If I was the captain of an international team knowing I was going to have AB back in the team, I'd probably have trouble sleeping because of excitement," Tahir said.
"That's how much of a big deal it is to have him back. That's how much we want him back in the team and I heard he batted well and is ready to play again.
"We're very excited because he's the best in the business."
While Sunday's second T20 did not go according to plan for the Proteas, Tahir was a bright spark and took advantage of the sub-continental conditions at the Wanderers. The three wicket defeat is not something that concerned Tahir, especially with the young nature of the team. He said the performances of young players like Lungi Ngidi far outweighed the negative batting display that saw the hosts skittled out for 113 in 19.4 overs.
Both Ngidi's and Tahir's tenacity made Sri Lanka's chase a tough one.
"The ODI squad is in a very good space at the moment after the clean sweep over Australia, but Sri Lanka will pose another stiff challenge," Tahir said.
Meanwhile, fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel could not be considered for the upcoming one-day international series because of injury while Ngidi is in line to win his first cap in this format.
"We have chosen this squad for the first three games only," commented CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi.
"Ngidi has been rewarded for his excellent form in the current T20 series and we are keen to see how he goes in the 50 overs format." - TMG Digital
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