AB de Villiers backs Bangladesh to challenge SA in Test series

Former South African great AB de Villiers believes Bangladesh are able to put up a good fight in their upcoming tour in South Africa (SA) after a landmark series draw against Australia.

Coming to tour in Australia after 23 years and only for their second visit Down Under, Bangladesh demonstrated a strong performance to earn the respect they were yearning for.

The Tigers won the first Test in Darwin after dominating the hosts Australia thoroughly to stand on the brink of a stunning series victory. That was not to be as they saw the other side of the coin when they were demolished for innings and 51-run margin defeat in Mackay in the second Test inside two days.

Bangladesh were dismissed twice below 100 in that Test but that couldn't take the gloss off the performance they showed in the Australia tour. 

Despite the batters' struggle in Mackay, de Villiers is keen to bet on Bangladesh whose fast bowlers demonstrated the expertise to give the Australia batters torrid time.

Bangladesh are scheduled to tour South Africa in November for two Test matches, three ODIs and three T20Is.

"I think Bangladesh will put up a good fight in South Africa. It is one of the toughest places in the world to tour, especially for batters," de Villiers said in a podcast.

"The ball not only swings after pitching but also moves off the seam. Not many players are accustomed to these conditions, so handling them is really difficult."

The former South Africa captain, dubbed as Mr. 360 degree for his innovative batting gave Bangladesh batters some tips, saying that they need to be proactive rather than simply trying to survive.

 "Speaking from my own experience, I had a few strategies to deal with it. Sometimes I would come down the crease, sometimes I would cover my stumps completely, and at other times I would leave them exposed, depending on how I read the situation," he said.

"In these kinds of seaming conditions, that is what you have to do. You cannot simply cover your stumps and try to survive all day. You have to be proactive," he added.

South Africa and India still remain the two teams, against whom Bangladesh are yet to win any Test.

The first Test will be played in Johannesburg from November 15 to 19, with the second scheduled for Centurion from November 23 to 27.    �"BSS