http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 - South Africa's run scorer - ICC World Cup 2011 player to watch
Abraham Benjamin de Villers is South Africa’s best One Day International (ODI) batsman, commonly known as AB de Villers.
The right-handed batsman has earned a great name by scoring high runs in very short time period in Tests, which include centuries against England, India http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
He is also famous as an excellent fielder for his ability to take high catches and prevent singles. At present, he is serving as wicketkeeper of South African team.
The major teams De Villers has been playing for include – Titans, Northerns, Titans, Africa XI and Daredevils. Currently, he also plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
Looking at his overall skills, International Cricket Council (ICC) crowned him ODI player of the year in 2010. He scored 964 runs in 2010 at an average of 80.33 including five centuries and four half centuries.
Being the best ODI batsman, a good fielder and an expert wicketkeeper, he is a great blessing for the Proteas.
The player made his Test debut at the age of 20, against England at Port Elizabeth in December 2004.
The 27 year old has featured in 66 Tests including 4741 runs at an average of 477.41 including 12 centuries and 23 fifties.
He has the highest Test score for a South African, of 278 in an innings. He is still has played the most Test innings without going for a duck after being sacked at zero against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in November 2008.
His ODI debut was also against England on February 2, 2005 at Bloemfontein. He has played 114 ODIs including 4170 runs at an average of 43.89 including nine centuries and 25 fifties.
He made his highest ODI score of 146 against West Indies on April 2007 at St George’s and was awarded man of the match.
De Villiers made his Twenty20 debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 in June 2009 at the Oval. The batsman has played 33 Twenty20s with a total score of 604 runs at an average
of 123.01 including four fifties.
In his cricketing career, he has played just one World Cup of 2007. Although, he took a poor start in the tournament, he became the team's third highest run-scorer for scoring 372 runs in 10 matches.
He played as an opener and hit two fifties, one against Scotland and the other against Australia with 92 runs off 70 balls in a group stage match. De Villiers ended the tournament with a strike rate of 100.1.
In February 2010, he smashed the seventh fastest ODI century in his devastating innings against India at Ahmedabad by hitting an entertaining 102 runs off just 59 balls and remained unbeaten.
He comes in as the number 2 in ICC’s best ODI batsmen ranking, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424, with 784 runs. He was the first South African to hit double centuries against India with a marvellous score of 217 runs on 4 April 2008.
ICC World Cup 2011, would be his second appearance in the showpiece event after the 2007 World Cup. The tournament will come his way with new promises where he will have a chance to make his mark not only as a batsman but also as a wicketkeeper.
Kepler Wessels expressing his views about de Villiers said, "He is the expansive match winner in the batting order through his talent and flair".
Tags: