“Talent is an overused word. What does it mean to have talent? Is it the ability to hit the ball further than someone else? I’ll tell you what talent is. It is to be a scratch golfer, and to be the best at rugby, hockey, tennis and swimming. If you are all those things, you are talented. You are AB de Villiers” – Nasser Hussain
In this glamorous world of cricket, some players engrave their names in the jewelry of cricket with a unique blend of skill, flair and unbridled talent. On top of that list is the maestro of modern day cricket, AB de Villiers, whose bold strokes and unconventional shot selection have thrilled fans around the world. In this blog, we will look at the top 5 ODI innings that showcased AB de Villiers’ dangerous exploits, cementing his status as one of the most extraordinary batsmen the game has ever seen.
5. The Silent Assassin: 104 (73) vs India
On October 11th 2015, a sunny Sunday in Kanpur, ABD came out to bat at the Green Park after 23.2 when South Africa, batting first, were crawling at 4.5 runs an over. Having lost 2 wickets at 104, they needed some consolidation in the middle and firing at the death.
India looked to continue to inject their spin venom to paralyze South Africa’s middle order with Ravi Aswhin and Amit Mishra keeping both Du Plessis and De Villiers quiet.
That consolidation was provided though, until du Plessis fell at the score of 152 in the 34th to Umesh Yadav with a bit of reverse swing and AB had to start the work all over again. Till then AB had hit no boundaries and was 18 off 30 balls.
Very smartly did he keep ticking around, taking calculated risks at regular intervals. Once the leg spin threat of Amit Mishra was over in the 41st over, the change in his approach became visible.
It became even more evident when after 44 overs, with just 6 overs to spare and 224 runs on the board, ABD pushed the accelerator and went into overdrive mode to smash 21 runs off Stuart Binny in the 45th over.
He scored his first 60 runs off 60 balls and his last 44 runs off just 13 balls to steer SA to a 300+ total. They became the first team to cross 300 at Kanpur.
Best Shot:
AB de Villiers smashed 5 boundaries and six 6s in this inning. At 44.6, De Villiers steps out and slaps a short of a length deliver over extra cover. He got 4 runs but it was the most well timed and courageous shot of the innings.
4. De-molition of bowlers: 176 (104) Vs Bangladesh
There is something about Octobers and De Villiers. On 18th October 2017, Bangladesh elected to field first at Paarl. Amla and De Kock provided a solid start at a good pace until Bangladesh bounced back in the 19th over when SA had put 90 runs on the board
AB de Villiers came in to bat in the 19th over, when 2 wickets had fallen in the space of four balls. But that didn’t make much difference. He was in complete control and was on the move right from the word go, making the Bangladeshi bowlers bowl wherever he wanted it, and then using those unmatched skills to send the ball all across to score more than 50% of South Africa’s runs.
He brought up his 50 off just 34 balls, and took a further 34 balls to bring up his 25th ODI century. Once Amla was out at 35.6 , de Villiers went all guns blazing , striking six of his seven sixes in the span of 17 balls. All of his seven sixes came between backward square-leg and midwicket while a most of his fours came through the covers.
Out of the seven 175+ individual scores by South Africans in ODIs, ABD’s knock has the highest strike rate of 169. His footwork and shot selection was supreme and there seemed to be no risk element in this innings. Nothing was pre meditated. It was just De Villiers setting up the bowlers to hit shots at will.
Records broken
- AB de Villiers becomes South Africa’s highest run scorer in an innings against Bangladesh in ODIs
- Achieves career best score of 176
- Fifth highest individual score in ODIs by a South African
Best Shot:
Taskin misses his length at 45.3; overpitched delivery outside off and De Villiers clears his front leg and carves it on the bounce over the extra cover boundary. Again, a boundary which was superior to many 6s.
“I felt like my first game again” says de Villiers in the post match conference.
3. The Wizard at Wankhede: 119 (61) Vs India
On 25th October 2015, a bright afternoon at Wankhede, a good pitch and short boundaries meant it was a wise decision to bat first, which is exactly what South Africa did after winning the toss.
South Africa were in a commanding position when AB came out to bat in the 27th over, with 187 already on the board.
For the 2nd time in the same year, 3 of their batsmen scored a ton in the same innings, all of them being quick fire ones this time.
But when you talk about De Villiers’ centuries, “quickfire” is a default. Proof of the fact being that all his ODI centuries have come at a strike rate of above 100 with an average strike rate of 140.
South Africa posted a mammoth 438, which turned out to be far too many for India in the series decider. They were always looking set to get around 400, but that extra mile was provided by the De Villiers engine.
He hit 11 sixes in this innings, four more than the other two centurions combined. The wagon wheel needs no introduction for Mr. 360.
Records broken:
- First captain to hit 3 centuries in an ODI bilateral five match series.
- Most centuries by a South African batsman in ODI history against India.
- Most sixes hit by an South African batsman against India in an innings in ODIs.
Best Shot:
Over number 47, delivery number 3. 132 kilometers per hour good length delivery by Bhuvneshwar and AB clears his front leg to hit a colossal six down the ground, into the third tier. This gigantic hit was straight out of the middle of the middle of the middle of the bat.
“We’re seeing a modern great at the peak of his powers. Rarely has a hundred come with such inevitability about it” says Harsha Bhogle.
2. The Blitz in Sydney: 162 (66) Vs West Indies
As cricket buffs, we have had the privilege of witnessing the Sydney Symphony – an innings that will be fondly remembered and cherished in the collective memory of cricket lovers for generations to come.
South Africa elected to bat first and the top order provided a steady start.
It took 23.3 overs for SA to reach the 100-run mark and just when Amla and du Plessis looked to up the ante, they were dismissed by Chris Gayle in the 30th over at the score of 146.
The double-blow brought de Villiers to the crease. AB started at a conservative pace, with 19 runs off the first 18 balls. Yet, his first fifty came off 30 balls. Because when De Villiers changes gears, you better mind your economy. He scored his next 55 runs in 22 balls and his last 57 runs in just 14 balls.
Once looking at a 300 as an achievable total, 261 runs came off the last 20 overs to rush South Africa to 408, on a two paced pitch, courtesy De Villiers’ carnage.
Records Broken:
- AB de Villiers scored the fastest 150 in ODIs, off 64 balls.
- ABD became the fastest captain to reach 3000 runs in ODIs, in just 60 innings.
- Most centuries (3) scored by an individual against a single team in World cups.
Best Shot:
Last Ball of the 45th over, AB walks across the stumps and converts an attempted yorker outside off into a full toss and deposits it into the stands towards the deep fine leg region. Spectators, commentators, the bowler and David Miller at the other end, all were left in sheer disbelief.
Fun Fact: AB in an interview said that he was sick that morning and had to take a few injections before heading towards the venue. He was literally asleep in the dressing room until it was his turn to bat. Now that is what we call “Without batting an eye”.
Things seemed to be different for West Indies though, they lost the match to De Villiers by 11 runs.
1. ABD goes berserk: 149 (44) Vs West Indies
If you too are searching for a “1” before the number of balls, then let me tell you, you’re not alone. Unless you witnessed this onslaught live. If you did, I don’t envy you. Because I watched the highlights and there wasn’t much of a difference!
On the Sunday morning of 18th January 2015, West Indies erred in analyzing that the Johannesburg pitch was a batting friendly one, proof of the fact being that no South African batsman who came out to bat, walked away without scoring a ton.
The pink jersey clad De Villiers came in to bat in the 39th over. How often do you see 140+ runs being scored in the last 11 overs, let alone a single batsman scoring them.
In no time, de Villiers took an innings which was building well and turned it into a massacre. He amassed 16 sixes, the most by a South African in an ODI innings, and dominated a 192-run stand with Hashim at massive 17.12 runs per over. Amla only faced 30 balls and contributed 33, such was de Villiers’ dominance.
“Hundred and forty Ks per hour and he does that” exclaims the commentator in the commentary box to a reverse sweep in the 43rd over.
“He’s slowing down a bit though, just 17 off the first 5 balls. Maximum he can get from this over is 23” replies the other commentator with no intention to joke around.
Records broken:
- Fastest ODI hundred: He reached his century in a mere 31 balls, breaking the previous record held by Corey Anderson (36 balls)
- Fastest ODI fifty: AB de Villiers reached his half-century in just 16 balls
- Highest strike rate for a 100+ score in ODIs: His strike rate in that innings was an astonishing 339.02
Best Shot:
Out of the array of shots, all of which contained a mixture of improvisation and pre meditation, my favorite one here is the most orthodox one.
At 41.4, Holder pitched one right in the slot for AB to stand tall and dismantle it straight down the ground into the crowd. With his natural bat swing and “playing within the box” technique, this shot was pleasing to the eye. He reached the fastest ODI fifty with this shot, which was cherry on the cake
Conclusion:
So what makes De Villiers’ technique work? What makes him so fearless that people, including Virat Kohli, often call his ability inhuman?
- Still head: Upon looking closely, the stillness of his head even when he is moving around so much at the crease is astonishing. Watch the highlights of any of the above 5 innings and you’ll know
- Fast hands: This is almost a pre requisite for any batsman to stand apart from the crowd. But in De Villiers’ case, his fast hands are aided by his footwork and amazing hand eye coordination.
- Ability to take risk: If AB were an investor, he would look to short stocks in a bull rally and buy stocks in a bear market, such is his risk apatite. Shots that seem pre meditated are setups from previous deliveries . So many of his improvisations are just because he knows that he can change his shot at the last second if the ball is not in the desired area. This ability to take risks is what separates him from the textbook batsmen, and thus makes him so unique, unpredictable and dangerous.
His still head, fast hands, and ability to take risks is what makes ABD the most dangerous batsman the game has ever seen!