AB to retain keeping role
AB de Villiers will remain the Proteas' wicketkeeper heading into the three test series against Australia, starting in Brisbane next Friday.
"I am yes [remaining wicketkeeper]. I've had a few injury worries to think about and to get over but I'm well rested now and ready to go again," said De Villiers in Sydney on Thursday.
De Villiers acknowledged wicketkeeping was not an easy job, but did not think the extra responsibility of wearing the gloves would be to the detriment of his batting.
"You do work hard. I worked really hard when I was fielding as well. I don't think it's going to affect my batting too much," he said.
"People will always go back to results and the stats. I'm going to have to score the runs to prove that first.
"From what I felt and what I went through in England, it didn't really affect my batting except I didn't score the hundreds that I wanted to.
De Villiers said he felt good whenever he reached the crease in England, but did not convert the starts he made into big scores.
"I could've gone big and I didn't so its some other things to think about but the keeping didn't affect the batting much."
The Proteas' No 5 said his fitness regime had changed slightly since assuming the role but as long as his wicketkeeping improved, he would like to continue in the role.
"I've always had an issue with my back, lower back, so it's something that I've been aware of for a long time," De Villiers said.
"Obviously the keeping exercises have come into play.
"Now I've got to work really hard with that and [Mark] Boucher is giving me a bit of advise.
"As long as I see improvement, it's something that I really like doing and as long as I don't let the team down, I want to make plays for the team as a wicket-keeping batsman.
De Villiers said while the man he replaced, Mark Boucher, will always be missed behind the stumps, the team had moved on.
"It was sad to lose him [Boucher] but we're over that now, and we will always miss Boucher but he's not here now and wasn't part of the whole preparation."
The Proteas begin their warm-up fixture against Australia A at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
