Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers has been bestowed honorary life membership at the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord’s in London.

‘Lord’s is the best ground in the world. Everybody knows that to be a member is obviously a huge honour and a compliment for the way I’ve played cricket and conducted myself on and off the field,’ said De Villiers.

‘It’s always a huge privilege to come back to this place and now that I’m a member it gives me a reason to come here quite often.’

The hard-hitting right-hander played five matches for Middlesex, whose home ground is Lord’s, earlier this year. He struck three half-centuries in five T20 Blast innings.

The prolific De Villiers recently expressed interest in competing in The Hundred – the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new limited-overs tournament.

‘If I am still fit, hitting them well and I’m competing with the best in the world, why not? I haven’t seen the rules and regulations for The Hundred, but whatever is good for the game of cricket I am going to support,’ he told Middlesex’s website.

‘Innovation is fantastic. If you never try you never know, so we’ll see what happens. If it’s OK, great; if it fails you move on, but I’m very excited to see how it works and maybe something will come of it.’

The Hundred will be launched next year. Former Proteas coach Gary Kirsten and Australian leg-spinner will coach the Cardiff- and Lord’s-based teams, respectively.

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