Introduction,
AB de Villiers (born 17 February 1984) is a former South African cricketer and one of the most talented batsmen of his generation. He was born in Bela-Bela (formerly Warmbaths), a small town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. De Villiers grew up in a sporting family and played various sports during his childhood, including rugby, tennis, and golf.
He made his debut for the South African national cricket team in December 2004 and quickly established himself as a dynamic and versatile batsman, known for his aggressive strokeplay and ability to play unconventional shots. De Villiers was also a talented wicketkeeper and fielder, making him an invaluable asset to the team.
Over the course of his international career, de Villiers set numerous records and achieved several milestones, including becoming the fastest batsman to score 8,000, 9,000, and 10,000 runs in One Day International cricket. He also played a key role in South Africa’s rise to the top of the Test rankings in 2012.
De Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018 but continued to play in domestic T20 leagues around the world. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of his era and a true legend of the game.
After 114 test matches, 228 one-day internationals, and 78 T20 internationals it is time for others to take over. I’ve had my turn and to be honest I’m tired.
Always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity.
I Can’t win the World Cup alone.
I don’t know how I’m gonna pick up a bat again. I just need to be away for a bit and play with my dogs.
It’s not about earning more somewhere else, it’s about running out of gas. AB de Villiers explains why he’s retiring from international cricket.
No matter how hot the fire burns, a Protea always survives.
For my part, I am not a great believer in bad luck on the cricket field, in business – in fact, in any walk of life.
For some guys, playing for the team will mean achieving more personally.
Good wits will jump.
I accept that it is not always moonshine and roses, and you can’t expect things must always go your way.
I am fully aware that cricket is like a second religion in Pakistan.
I believe all teams choke in certain situations.
I don’t care about hundreds, the fifties, or averages.
I don’t know how I’m gonna pick up a bat again. I just need to be away for a bit and play with my dogs.
I feel I handle pressure situations well, and that’s why I want to be there at the end.
I have always wanted to play at the top of the order.
I just try and earn my right to get on top of the bowlers, and that is how I play every game.
I know my game pretty well, and that is the secret to success in most sports.
I like to entertain the crowd. Personally, I like to entertain my teammates first, but when the crowd gets going, it is amazing.
I love keeping. I’m in the game all the time. I see angles that I wouldn’t normally see, and I feel part of what the captain does.
I really hate it when I can’t score runs from a ball.
I rest a bit more when I keep. The only thing I have to look after is my back and using different muscle groups.
I think I have a natural hitting ability.
I try and keep my feet on the ground and keep working at my game.
I try and watch the ball closely. I’ve played the game for many years now, and I know my talent will take over if I just watch the ball and enjoy myself out there.
I was brought up to always see the glass half full instead of half empty and played my cricket that way.
I’m not the kind of guy who cares how many hundreds I’ve scored.
I’ve always been a people pleaser.
If I play all the IPL games the whole season, I do get a bit tired towards the end.
In all kinds of sports, you have to get the confidence going within before you can start proving people wrong or right.
It was a bit of a surprise when the national captaincy came my way.
It will never be much fun until a Proteas team finally goes out and wins one of these ICC limited-overs tournaments. That will happen one day.
It would not be right for me to pick and choose where, when, and in what format I play for the Proteas.
It’s always been about the team; it’s never been about myself.
It’s always been the most important thing for me to enjoy my cricket. AB de Villiers
It’s important on any English wicket to leave well.
It’s never easy to lose. But life is not all sunshine and roses.
My personal goals have always been and will always take a backseat to the team.
Sometimes you don’t quite realise what you have achieved until you look back.
The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual, including me.
The world’s a forest, in which all lose their way; though by a different path each goes astray.
When I’m in form, I don’t really have to worry about my technique. It’s about getting in the right mental space.
If you get a good start, just try and stay as calm as possible. It’s nice to play aggressively, but just make sure you watch the ball all the way and not get too far ahead of yourself.
I think the most important thing for any cricketer is to have a clear mind, no matter what your ability.
I try not to think about the future too much. I just focus on what I can do today to be the best I can be, and the future will take care of itself.
I’m not a big believer in practicing for hours on end. I think it’s more about quality than quantity. You need to have a clear plan and focus on the things you want to work on.
I don’t think anyone has the right to tell someone else what he should live for. It’s a very personal thing. My goal is to be the best husband, father, and cricketer I can be.
I think any opportunity you have to represent your country is a huge honour. It’s something that every young kid dreams of doing one day.
