Greatest South African Test XI of all time

#3 Wicket-keeper and All-rounders

AB de Villiers will don the wicket-keeping gloves to lend balance to the lineup

Even though there cannot be a better choice than Mark Boucher for the specialist wicket-keeper slot, imparting the big gloves to AB de Villiers converts an already formidable batting lineup into an impenetrable one. He has kept wickets in 24 Tests and effected 94 dismissals (89 catches and 5 stumpings). Thus far, the attacking right-hander has played 110 matches and scored 8338 runs at an average of 49.92 with 21 centuries and 42 fifties.

One of South Africa's valuable cricketers during their early years in the Test arena, Aubrey Faulkner added enormous credibility to the team's fortunes at a time when victories were few and far in between. Aside from scoring 1754 runs from 25 matches at an average of 40.79 with four centuries, the all-rounder also picked 82 wickets with his leg-spin.

Changing the common perception that fast bowlers had to be nasty to get into the groove, the affable Shaun Pollock preferred to let his work do the talking. With 421 scalps from 108 matches at an average of 23.11, he is the leading wicket-taker in South Africa's Test history. In addition to his probing seam bowling, the right-hander also manned the lower-order with commendable resourcefulness. 3781 runs at an average of 32.31 with two centuries stand as testament to his all-round skills.