AB de Villiers should bat in the top three in One-Day Internationals instead of coming in at No 4.

He already opens the batting in T20I cricket, and I don’t see what the big difference is if he also fills that role in the 50-over format.

I don’t like the idea of Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis batting together when Quinton de Kock gets out early, especially at the top of the order. It’s not ideal because they bat too slow. AB opening the batting is not a big difference to what he already does in T20’s.

It allows him to settle and build the innings, especially in the subcontinent. I don’t think he will be exposing himself too much by batting at the top of the order. The best players should get in early. It shouldn’t be too much of a gamble. With AB opening the batting with De Kock and Amla at three, JP Duminy can come in at four and Faf du Plessis at five, with David Miller moving down a spot to six.

Trying Miller at No 4 is also an option, but the input of the players is also important. The management will have to talk to them because they have to be happy about where they bat.

In any case, I don’t think AB should bat lower than No 3.

South Africa have obviously done well on tour so far. You could see the confidence in the T20 series, but India weren’t firing and I think they are only now getting back to the level they should be.

We let India off the hook in the second ODI. Dale Steyn batting at No 8 makes the tail a bit long, but I think we should be okay going forward. Not having Rilee Rossouw there is a big loss for South Africa.

I am still concerned about their inconsistency, but I think we’ll do well in the rest of the series.