AB de Villiers, former South African captain and one of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game, is currently in Australia to ply his trade for Brisbane Heat in the ongoing ninth edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2019-2020.
In his illustrious career, the batting legend has played with or against lots of legendary players but there are only a few who could manage to impress Mr. 360 degree with their game.
On Tuesday (January 14th), De Villiers made his much-anticipated BBL debut against Adelaide Strikers and he was asked to name the five best batsmen he played with or against after he received his Brisbane Heat cap from Australian veteran Andrew Symonds.
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Well, before making his BBL debut for Heat, South African batting superstar has already sent a warning to the other teams by saying he has arrived in Australia “in some of the best form of my career” and he hopes to show more of that in the tournament.
The right-hander came into the BBL 09 from a fruitful campaign for the Tshwane Spartans in the recently concluded Mzansi Super League where he racked up 325 runs including four half-centuries in his last six innings at a whirlwind strike-rate of 152.58.
De Villiers told reporters, “I felt in some of the best form of my career. Hopefully, we’ll see more of that in this tournament. I know what’s required of me to make a play for the team. There have been some standout performances from the Heat this season and I think the team is in a really good place. Tom Banton did a fantastic job, hopefully, I’ll do a similar job but in the middle order.”
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Protea could only come up with three names when he was asked to pick the five best batsmen he played with or against and they were three were Australia star Steve Smith, his former South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
About Smith, de Villiers said: “Very limited in his technique but he finds a way. Just an amazing character” before adding: “Graeme Smith, there is something about the Smiths. Graeme Smith [was], not the flashiest players but he played for the team and wanted to make a statement always.”
He signed off by saying about his Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, “Virat Kohli is similar. The kind of guy you don’t talk on the field.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)
