Happy Birthday AB de Villiers
Happy Birthday AB de Villiers: Mr 360 turns 32
South Africa Test captain AB de Villiers turned 32 on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters)
South Africa Test captain AB de Villiers turned 32 on Wednesday. Capturing the cricketing world’s fascination by his strokeplay, De Villiers has earned the tag of complete batsman.
There have been times when the audience has doubted his presence as a human. Former India cricketer Aaksh Chopra once said:
“I demand a DNA test for AB de Villiers , this game is only for humans”
Here are some of the feats of Mr 360
Fastest hundred in ODI formatCorey Anderson began the year 2014 by breaking the long-held record of fastest ODI century by smashing a 36-ball ton against West Indies in Queenstown. But a year later, De Villiers , playing at his favourite ground in Johannesburg, scored a hundred in 31 balls to claim the record. Incidentally, the opposition was once again the West Indies.
Fastest Fifty in ODI format
During the course of his fastest hundred, De Villiers achieved another glory when he scored his fifty runs in just 16 balls to shatter a 19-year long record of Sanath Jayasuriya.
Fastest 150 in ODI format
The Proteas were up against the West Indies in the ICC World Cup 2015 and were placed at 146/3 when the skipper stepped in. In what can be called as one of the most ferocious innings by him, De Villiers destroyed the West Indian attack to score 162* runs off 66 balls. This was the fastest 150+ score by a batsman in ODIs. He scored his 150th run on 64th delivery to break the previous record by 19 ball which was held by Shane Watson. He is now the only player to hold the record of scoring the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 at the same time.
2nd Highest individual score in Tests for South Africa
De Villiers holds the record of the second highest individual score for South Africa. He scored an unbeaten 278 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in the year 2010. Hashim Amla is the only player who has scored a triple hundred for South Africa.
Most Test innings by a batsman without a duck
De Villiers also holds the record of most number of innings by a batsman in Test cricket without getting out for a duck. He played 78 innings before he was sent back a duck in a match against Bangladesh in the year 2008.
McCullum is the Federer of cricket - AB de Villiers
For
years, fans have seen South African cricket captain AB de Villiers as a
daring, gallant and even belligerent man, keen to decimate bowling
attacks with his slashing bat.
Mention the name Brendon McCullum and the image changes. You see a softer, more jovial man.
Ask him about Baz's retirement and the picture changes again, a more intimate side is revealed.
As preparations for New Zealand's test against Australia in Christchurch ramp up, so do the sentimental words for the Black Caps captain.
Listen: AB de Villiers looks back on the career of Brendon McCullum
Everyone is keen to have their say, add their story, share an anecdote about McCullum and de Villiers is no different.
The pair have been fierce rivals on the field throughout McCullum's 14-year international career, but great friends off it.
One only has to look at last year's Cricket World Cup semifinal, when the Black Caps dramatically beat South Africa.
The dejection de Villiers and his team felt after that match was high, but de Villiers still led his troops into the New Zealand dressing room to share a beer with McCullum and his team.
"One thing I admire the most is the fact that, off the field, he is a fantastic human being, a really good friend of mine and that is something I will always respect." de Villiers said.
"I truly love the way he plays the game. He plays with a lot of passion, pride and energy. It's difficult to do that consistently.
"I can think of someone like a Roger Federer, who's someone else to have achieved that throughout his career.
"Maintaining that consistency, that passion, that pride and energy... Brendon has definitely achieved that."
De Villiers concedes that is perhaps McCullum's shining quality - his love for the game and the vigour in which he plays it.
The South African batting genius has struggled with this aspect, stating earlier this year that he was contemplating his future. He admitted that at times over the past few years he was not enjoying the game as he should.
He says that seemed a different story with the Black Caps captain.
"What makes him a great cricketer is the fact he always plays with energy and passion. That is something I admire because I like to play that way.
"It is really difficult to maintain that throughout one's career. So for him to have done that, for that many years, time and time again, I just admire that so much."
When the Christchurch test concludes, there will no doubt be chatter about McCullum's legacy.
It's easy to quantify in numbers what he has achieved for the Black Caps.
Leading them to their first ODI World Cup final, being the most successful Black Caps captain and only New Zealand Cricketer to score a triple century in an international test match are just a few records McCullum has notched up since taking over as captain in 2012.
What is harder to measure is the impact he's left on cricket as a whole in New Zealand.
De Villiers believes the way he led the Black Caps to the World Cup final is his shining moment.
"The youngsters who looked at that whole display of New Zealand almost winning the World Cup will be encouraged to do so in the future. So his legacy that he leaves behind leaves a good taste in everyone's mouth."
Mention the name Brendon McCullum and the image changes. You see a softer, more jovial man.
Ask him about Baz's retirement and the picture changes again, a more intimate side is revealed.
As preparations for New Zealand's test against Australia in Christchurch ramp up, so do the sentimental words for the Black Caps captain.
Listen: AB de Villiers looks back on the career of Brendon McCullum
Everyone is keen to have their say, add their story, share an anecdote about McCullum and de Villiers is no different.
The pair have been fierce rivals on the field throughout McCullum's 14-year international career, but great friends off it.
One only has to look at last year's Cricket World Cup semifinal, when the Black Caps dramatically beat South Africa.
The dejection de Villiers and his team felt after that match was high, but de Villiers still led his troops into the New Zealand dressing room to share a beer with McCullum and his team.
"One thing I admire the most is the fact that, off the field, he is a fantastic human being, a really good friend of mine and that is something I will always respect." de Villiers said.
"I truly love the way he plays the game. He plays with a lot of passion, pride and energy. It's difficult to do that consistently.
"I can think of someone like a Roger Federer, who's someone else to have achieved that throughout his career.
"Maintaining that consistency, that passion, that pride and energy... Brendon has definitely achieved that."
De Villiers concedes that is perhaps McCullum's shining quality - his love for the game and the vigour in which he plays it.
The South African batting genius has struggled with this aspect, stating earlier this year that he was contemplating his future. He admitted that at times over the past few years he was not enjoying the game as he should.
He says that seemed a different story with the Black Caps captain.
"What makes him a great cricketer is the fact he always plays with energy and passion. That is something I admire because I like to play that way.
"It is really difficult to maintain that throughout one's career. So for him to have done that, for that many years, time and time again, I just admire that so much."
When the Christchurch test concludes, there will no doubt be chatter about McCullum's legacy.
It's easy to quantify in numbers what he has achieved for the Black Caps.
Leading them to their first ODI World Cup final, being the most successful Black Caps captain and only New Zealand Cricketer to score a triple century in an international test match are just a few records McCullum has notched up since taking over as captain in 2012.
What is harder to measure is the impact he's left on cricket as a whole in New Zealand.
De Villiers believes the way he led the Black Caps to the World Cup final is his shining moment.
"The youngsters who looked at that whole display of New Zealand almost winning the World Cup will be encouraged to do so in the future. So his legacy that he leaves behind leaves a good taste in everyone's mouth."
Happy Birthday AB de Villiers
![Happy Birthday AB de Villiers]()
Reviewed by Unknown
on
20:42:00
Rating:
No comments: