Faf du Plessis doesn't expect AB de Villiers' return to Test fold

London, Aug 8: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis feels veteran cricketer and star batsman AB de Villiers' chances of returning to Test fold are bleak.

Moeen spins his magic in victory over Proteas

De Villiers, one of the world's leading batsmen, opted out of the Test series when South Africa arrived here in England. The explosive batsman has stayed away from the longer format of the game to keep himself fit for limited-overs.

Du Plessis said South Africa had to get ready for a future where former captain de Villiers no longer played Test cricket.

"We all know how good AB is, and we missed him, but we've spent too much time talking about 'when is AB going to come back?'," he explained. "The hope of him coming back is something I think we need to move past... If AB comes back it's a huge bonus... but I don't expect it," du Plessis said during press conference after losing the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

De Villiers played his last Test way back in January 2016 at Centurion against England.

South Africa were defeated by England by 177 runs in the fourth Test and Du Plessis-led Proteas side eventually lost the Test series against England by 3-1.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali's five-wicket-haul in the final innings helped England fold the visitors for 202. Ali claimed 5/69 a day after slamming a counter-attacking half-century and effectively took the game out of visitors' hands.

Chasing a daunting total of 380 to win in the fourth innings, South Africa folded sharply as a gruelling tour, which began in May with an ODI series, came to a disheartening end.

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