<p class="title">South African great AB de Villiers will make his debut in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League during the 2019-20 season after signing with Brisbane Heat, the team announced Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 35-year-old prolific batsman will join the Heat for the second half of the eight-team competition that runs from December to February.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Darren Lehmann said he was "over the moon" to have the opportunity to work with de Villiers for the first time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"World class players don't just come along every day and to have a player of AB's stature and skill in the BBL is a fantastic outcome for everyone, not just the Heat," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's a 360-degree player, great skills, outstanding temperament and an insightful leader."</p>.<p class="bodytext">De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 one-dayers and 78 Twenty20s in a 14-year career for the Proteas before retiring from international cricket in 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He starred for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's Indian Premier League, scoring 442 runs at an average of 44.20 with a rapid strike rate of 154.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said the decision to join the Heat for the BBL from January, including the finals should they qualify, was an easy one to make.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They play the kind of brand that I want to be associated with. It's quite aggressive, they go after the attack, and I'm looking forward to going to the Gabba," de Villiers said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a beautiful cricket field. It's a great wicket and games are always of a high quality."</p>
<p class="title">South African great AB de Villiers will make his debut in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League during the 2019-20 season after signing with Brisbane Heat, the team announced Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 35-year-old prolific batsman will join the Heat for the second half of the eight-team competition that runs from December to February.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Darren Lehmann said he was "over the moon" to have the opportunity to work with de Villiers for the first time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"World class players don't just come along every day and to have a player of AB's stature and skill in the BBL is a fantastic outcome for everyone, not just the Heat," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's a 360-degree player, great skills, outstanding temperament and an insightful leader."</p>.<p class="bodytext">De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 one-dayers and 78 Twenty20s in a 14-year career for the Proteas before retiring from international cricket in 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He starred for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's Indian Premier League, scoring 442 runs at an average of 44.20 with a rapid strike rate of 154.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said the decision to join the Heat for the BBL from January, including the finals should they qualify, was an easy one to make.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They play the kind of brand that I want to be associated with. It's quite aggressive, they go after the attack, and I'm looking forward to going to the Gabba," de Villiers said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a beautiful cricket field. It's a great wicket and games are always of a high quality."</p>