AB de Villiers will miss the one-off ODI against Ireland to allow him more time to recover for the Australia series.

The skipper missed the Test series against New Zealand in August due to carrying up to as many as six injuries, although a shoulder problem was the official line.

‘I have five to six niggles at the moment, including the shoulder that everybody knows about which started about eight months ago. I have been hanging in there,’ he said last month.

He’s been given an extended period of rehabilitation, and his availability for the five-match series against the Aussies will be subject to him passing a fitness test.

Faf du Plessis, as he did for the Test series, will step in as captain. Rilee Rossouw has been added to the squad as batting cover.

‘AB has been on a rigorous rehabilitation and treatment plan for the last six weeks but is still complaining of pain in the elbow region,’ said Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee.

‘While surgery remains the last option, we hope that the extra time will allow the injury to respond to treatment.’

The one-off match will get underway in Benoni from 10am on Sunday.

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