Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith has backed AB de Villiers to return to form in the three-match T20 series against England.
The Proteas ODI skipper has been under fire recently over his inconsistent form in the ICC Champions Trophy where he only scored 30 runs in his three outings at the tournament.
De Villiers has also received flak from the public, critics and former players over his captaincy.
However, De Villiers believes he is still the man to lead the Proteas to an elusive ICC trophy, and now turns his attention to the T20 side where he'll stand in as skipper for Faf du Plessis.
Smith believes that the "destructive" De Villiers will return to form and leave his mark on the English tour.
"De Villiers will know that these games provide an opportunity for certain players to regroup and regain some momentum following what was a tough ICC Champions Trophy campaign for the Proteas," wrote Smith in his column for the Independent on Tuesday.
"With De Villiers himself due to fly home following the completion of the T20s, I can guarantee that he'll be hungry to bring home some positive results in these games, with question marks over how long he'll continue to play international cricket.
"AB remains one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket, and he'll be looking to leave his mark on this summer with a big score or two in the three games."
The first T20 gets underway on Wednesday in Southampton at 19:30 SA time.
