Abraham Benjamin de Villiers generally known as AB de Villiers is a South African player who plays for his side in all the 3 formats (ODI, Test and T20). A right-handed batsman also represents South Africa being a wicket-keeper. At presents, he is the best fielder in South African team. He is at the top position in ODI batting ranking list.
He was also declared ICC Cricketer of the year and the best player in Test format in 2009.
AB made his ODI debut in 2005 against England. He has played nearly 140 games and has added more than 5000 runs in his score card with an average of 50 including 14 tons and 30 fifties.
AB was a member of South African squad for World Cup 2007 and he performed best with the bat and scored 4 fifties against India and Pakistan. He smashed his first ODI century in the same tournament in the Super Eight games when he played against West Indies and played a scintillating knock of 146 off just 130 deliveries including 5 high sixes and 12 boundaries and this figure was set as his top score in ODI format.
He also played in World Cup 2011. In the tournament, he smashed 2 consecutive tons and came at the second position to do the same in his side’s squad. He ranked 16th in the Cricket World to scored 2 tons in World Cup tournament. He was declared 3rd highest runs scoring personality in the same tournament and became the second player after Jacques Kallis to receive the highest number of awards in World Cup games. AB also played some well innings against Australia of 5 ODIs series in 2009 and was declared Man of the Series.
When it comes to his Test career, AB played his first Test game at the age of just 20 against England in 2004 but didn’t do well with the bat. He has given his contribution in nearly 90 games and has scored around 6300 runs with batting average of 50 which also includes some superlative innings of 16 tons and 32 half centuries. He played his first double century of 214 in 2004 against India and became the only player to do the same against India.
He gave his valuable contribution in 2008-09 against Australia and played a century outstandingly. South Africa won the first Test game and this victory was its first Test win in Australia for the past 15 years.
His best score in Test format is of 278(not out) that he scored against Pakistan in 2010-11.
Records by AB de Villiers
- In Top 10 For Most Centuries in ODI
- Highest Partnership in IPL History with Virat Kohli