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AB De Villiers is a kind of batsman who can destroy and bowling attack of the world of any team playing against him. Playing with such a quality makes him not only a destructive batsman but also the best batsman of the world who can change the situation of a match in a moment. For many times he has played many innings in which he single-handedly took away the match from the opposition. In this article I will discuss about one of those memorable innings also. He is a threat to every bowler whether it is a Test or T20. He is known as the craziest hitter of the ball because of his hitting technique which is incomparable with any batsman in the world. 

Today in this article I will try to bring you as many information as I can about such great batsman in the cricket history. And due to this qualities I am happy to call him as

"A superman of Cricket"

BIOGRAPHY:

Abraham Benjamin "AB" De Villiers Born on February 17, 1984 at Pretoria a place in South Africa. His Father name is Dr. Abraham Benjamin.

Education:

For education his father admitted him to Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria. At school he was alongside with Jacques Rudolph, Faf Du Plessis his fellow South African cricketers. He took part in many games at school level and proved himself a best player in all aspects of games. He wanted to become a Doctor by profession but for this he could not keep his studies up to mark so he decided to join a sports and then he excelled in many sports.

Other Sports:

 As AB De Villiers was very talented and sport-spirited he took part in many other games like rugby, hockey, swimming, golf, tennis  etc.  He played every single game at his best and shown that he can play every game with ease and class that is required to be a top-ranking player. At school he was selected in U-14 cricket team. He was very interested in Golf so he took this game up. He also played hockey at school level and was shortlisted for U-16 national hockey team also.

Wedding:

He got married in 2013 to Danielle. His wife gave birth to child in July 2015. AB named him as Abraham De Villiers.

Special Information for AB De Villiers Fans:

1. Th Lucky number of AB is 17, as it is the number of his shirt also and he born on this date too.

2. The favorite playground of AB is Super Sport Park at Centurion.

3. AB is the record holder for 100m in Junior Athletics of South Africa,

4. AB is the Former Champion of U-19 Badminton Championship of SA.

5. AB once received award from South African President Neslson Mandela for a science project.

6. AB has been a part of junior hockey team for his country.

7. Favorite movie of AB is "Gladiators"

8. The favorite football club is "Manchester United"

9. The favorite sportsmen of AB is Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

10. Pasta and Sea Food are the favorite foods of AB.

11. Bible is the favorite book of AB.

12. Snow Patrol is the favorite band.

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AB De Villiers with his wife

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With his wife and baby

http://st1.criclife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/de-villiers.jpg

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Short Video about AB how he joined Cricket and some amazing shots and catches:

Cricket Career:

AB De Villiers started his career on Dec 17, 2004 against England at Port Elizabeth and now has become the world's best batsman in all formats of cricket and has been announced ICC No. 1 ranking player many times. He is right hand batsman and bowler. On his debut match he played a knock of 52 runs and saved SA from a certain defeat. He caught the interest of selectors in his early days of career by playing with a fine technique. Even he started his career as an Opener batsman he has played down under the order many times and showed that he is a player with such stamina that can play at any order and any time as required by the team and captain. Such class of AB De Villiers pushed him to play with more skills and for his team and himself. He kept his focus on his batting and in coming days he scored many runs withing a short of period of time.

During his time in cricket he has made many world records and at early in his career he became the second youngest and fastest 1000 runs maker after Graeme Pollock in test matches. He kept wicket-keeping and bowled as well as a part time bowler.

As Captain:

AB became the SA team captain after retiring of Graeme Smith after the 2011 world cup. After his retirement he has been captaining the team and proved himself a good captain with a good record. He has also captained the T20 team but only some occasions. In the 2015 world cup SA team reached Semi Finals and lost to New Zealand in a very tight match.

Career Statistics:

Information courtesy: Cricbuzz.com

AB De Villiers as Fielder/Keeper/Bowler:

Not only in batting AB De Villiers proved himself as the best fielder at ground. He has an extraordinary skill of diving and to sharp jumps to ball and running has given him a status of one of the best fielder of all time. He is a kind of fielder who can stop the ball by lying on stomach and sliding to ball. He got reputation when he ran-out Simon Katich an Australian batsman by his wonderful technique to throw the ball back to stumps over from his shoulder and stunned everyone with such a great effort. After such a wonderful display of fielding many people started comparing him with the Jonty Rhodes an all time best fielder ever in cricket history. He is also from South Africa and Jonty Rhodes got his reputation by running-out Inzimam-ul-Haq in 1992 World-cup. It was the first time in cricket history when such effort was made by any fielder to run-out a batsman. 

AB De Villiers has wicket-keeping for SA as a regular and part time wicket keeper. Now, after inclusion of Quinton De Cock in the team as a regular wicket keeper in team has given relaxed to AB and he is not keeping.

Apart of fielding De Villiers is capable of bowling. He is a medium pacer bowler who can bowl when there is a need to bowl. He has performed bowling as part time bowler also to complete the 5th bowler quota. His bowling has befitted SA team many a times. This make him an amazing wonderful cricketer who fulfill all needs of cricket and can perform anytime.

Stunning catch by AB:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZeY07V3Mlk

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World Records By AB De Villiers:

 AB De Villiers hold many world records in all the cricketing formats like Test, ODI and T20. Here are some record made by him.

1.  Fastest 50 runs in ODI
   
2. Fastest 100 runs in ODI
3. Fastest 150 runs in ODI
4. Most sixes in a single ODI 16 sixes
5. Two consecutive centuries in a world cup
6. Most man of the match in a series
7. Most runs in test match inning after Hashim Amla

World Fastest 50 & 100 runs By AB De Villiers in ODI history:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sx1JCqq41c

World Fastest 150 runs By AB De Villiers in ODI history

Most sixes in an ODI (16 sixes)

 De Villiers can take any bowling apart with his wide array of strokes on either side of the wicket. If his drives, pulls and cuts are pleasing to the eye, his ability to innovate has left bowlers hapless on many occasions. I will share his some amazing shots.

 Some Best shots AB Played

 AWARDS:

National Awards:

SA Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers
Test Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla
Castle Lager ODI Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers
Ticketpro T20 International Cricketer of the Year: Morne van Wyk
SA Players’ Player of the Year: AB de Villiers
SA Fans’ Player of the Year: AB de Villiers
KFC ‘So Good’ Award: AB de Villiers (fastest ever ODI century v West Indies at the Wanderers)
RAM Delivery of the Year: Dale Steyn (third Test against West Indies at Newlands)
Momentum women’s Cricketer of the Year: Shabnim Ismail

Domestic awards:

Sunfoil Series Cricketer of the Season: Stephen Cook (Highveld Lions)
Momentum One-Day Cup Cricketer of the Season: Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras)
RAM SLAMMER of the Season: Kieron Pollard (Cape Cobras)
Pitchvision Coach of the Year: Geoffrey Toyana (Highveld Lions)
Domestic Players’ Player of the Season: Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras)
CSA Fair Play Award: The Titans
SACA Most Valuable Player Award: Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras)

Data Courtesy: http://www.sacricketmag.com/de-villiers/

 

ICC Player of the year ODI

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International Awards

Test Cricket

Player of the Series awards

S No	Series	Season	Match Performance	Result
1	Sri Lanka in South Africa Test Series	2011/12	353 runs with 1 century and 2 fifties. Avg. 117.66 (3 matches)	South Africa won the series 2-1.[35]
2	Pakistan in South Africa Test Series	2012/13	352 runs with 2 centuries and a fifty. Avg. 88.00 ; WK 17 ct. (3 matches)	South Africa won the series 3-0.[36]
3	South Africa vs Pakistan in UAE Test Series	2013/14	273 runs with a double century. Avg. 93.66 ; WK 5 ct. 1 st. (2 matches)	Series drawn.[37]
4	India in South Africa Test Series	2013/14	190 runs with a century and a fifty. Avg. 63.33 ; WK 14 ct. (2 matches)	South Africa won the series 1-0.[38]

Man of the Match awards

S No	Series	Season	Match Performance	Result
1	5th Test - England in South Africa Test Series	2004/05	1st Innings: 92 (165 balls, 15x4) 2nd Innings: 109 (169 balls, 11x4, 1x6)	Match drawn.[39]
2	2nd Test - South Africa in India Test Series	2007/08	1st Innings: 217* (333 balls, 17x4, 2x6) 2nd Innings: 2 ct. ; DNB	South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs.[40]
3	1st Test - South Africa in Australia Test Series	2008/09	1st Innings: 2 ct. ; 63 (130 balls, 7x4, 1x6) 2nd Innings: 2 ct. ; 106* (186 balls, 9x4)	South Africa won by 6 wickets.[41]
4	2nd Test - South Africa vs Pakistan in UAE Test Series	2010/11	1st Innings: 278* (418 balls, 23x4, 6x6) 2nd Innings: 25 (29 balls, 1x4)	Match drawn.[42]
5	3rd Test - West Indies in South Africa Test Series	2014/15	1st Innings: WK 1 st. ; 148 (194 balls, 15x4, 1x6) 2nd Innings: WK 2 ct. ; DNB	South Africa won by 8 wickets.[43]

 

One-Day International Cricket

Player of the series awards

#	Series	Season	Match Performance	Result
1	South Africa in Zimbabwe	2007/08	170 Runs (3 Matches, 1×100, 1×50) with avg. 86.00; WK 6 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-0.[44]
2	Australia in South Africa	2008/09	240 Runs (5 Matches, 2×50) with avg. 60.00 ; 3 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-2.[45]
3	Zimbabwe in South Africa	2010/11	231 Runs (3 Matches, 2×100) with avg. 115.50 ; WK 6 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-0.[46]
4	Sri Lanka in South Africa	2011/12	329 Runs (5 Matches, 1×100, 2×50) with avg. 109.66 ; WK 7 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-2.[47]
5	Pakistan in South Africa	2012/13	367 Runs (5 Matches, 1×100, 3×50) with avg. 91.75 ; WK 7 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-2.[48]
6	South Africa in India	2015/16	358 Runs (5 Matches, 3×100) with avg. 89.50 ; 3 ct. WK 1 ct.	South Africa Won the series 3-2.[49]

Man of the Match awards

S No	Opponent	Venue	Date	Match Performance	Result
1	Bangladesh	National Stadium, St. George's	10 April 2007	146 (130 balls, 12x4, 5x6) ; 1 ct.	South Africa won by 67 runs.[50]
2	Zimbabawe	Harare Sports Club, Harare	26 August 2007	107 (89 balls, 8x4, 6x6) ; WK 1 ct.	South Africa won by 28 runs.[51]
3	Pakistan	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	18 October 2007	103* (95 balls, 9x4, 3x6) ; 1 ct.	South Africa won by 45 runs.[52]
4	New Zealand	Kingsmead, Durban	25 November 2007	87 (103 balls, 9x4)	South Africa won by 2 wickets.[53]
5	West Indies	Kingsmead, Durban	1 February 2008	77 (86 balls, 7x4)	South Africa won by 5 wickets.[54]
6	Australia	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	26 January 2009	WK 2 ct. ; 82* (85 balls, 6x4, 1x6)	South Africa won by 8 wickets.[55]
7	England	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town	27 November 2009	121 (85 balls, 14x4)	South Africa won by 112 runs.[56]
8	India	Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad	27 February 2010	102* (59 balls, 11x4, 3x6)	South Africa won by 90 runs.[57]
9	West Indies	Windsor Park, Roseau	28 May 2010	70 (80 balls, 2x4, 1x6) ; WK 3 ct.	South Africa won by 67 runs.[58]
10	West Indies	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi	24 February 2011	107* (105 balls, 8x4, 2x6)	South Africa won by 7 wickets.[59]
11	Netherlands	PCA Stadium, Mohali	3 March 2011	134 (98 balls, 13x4, 4x6)	South Africa won by 231 runs.[60]
12	New Zealand	Westpac Stadium, Wellington	25 February 2012	WK 2 ct, 1 st ; 106* (106 runs, 3x4, 4x6)	South Africa won by 6 wickets.[61]
13	Pakistan	The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg	17 March 2013	128 (108 balls, 12x4, 3x6) ; WK 2 ct.	South Africa won by 34 runs.[62]
14	Pakistan	Willowmoore Park, Benoni	24 March 2013	WK 2 ct. ; 95* (111 balls, 9x4, 1x6)	South Africa won by 6 wickets.[63]
15	Pakistan	Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah	11 November 2013	115* (102 balls, 10x4, 3x6)	South Africa won by 117 runs.[64]
16	Sri Lanka	MRIC Stadium, Hambantota	12 July 2014	108 (71 balls, 11x4, 4x6) ; 1 ct.	South Africa won by 82 runs.[65]
17	Australia	Harare Sports Club, Harare	27 August 2014	2 ct. ; 136* (106 balls, 11x4, 2x6)	South Africa won by 7 wickets.[66]
18	New Zealand	Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui	21 October 2014	89 (85 balls, 9x4)	South Africa won by 6 wickets.[67]
19	West Indies	Kingsmead, Durban	16 January 2015	81 (94 balls, 6x4) ; WK 4 ct, 1 st.	South Africa won by 61 runs (D/L).[68]
20	West Indies	The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg	18 January 2015	149 (44 balls, 9x4, 16x6)	South Africa won by 148 runs.[69]
21	West Indies	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	27 February 2015	162* (66 balls, 17x4, 8x6) ; 1 ct.	South Africa won by 257 runs.[70]
22	United Arab Emirates	Westpac Stadium, Wellington	11 March 2015	99 (82 balls, 6x4, 4x6) ; 3-0-15-2 ; 1 ct.	South Africa won by 146 runs.[71]
23	New Zealand	Kingsmead, Durban	26 August 2015	64 (48 balls, 8x4, 1x6)	South Africa won by 62 runs.[72]
24	India	Green Park, Kanpur	11 October 2015	104* (73 balls, 5x4, 6x6)	South Africa won by 5 runs.[7

 Data source: cricinfo.com

 This is all about such a great cricketer. I wish him best of luck for all the time and many many wishes for hi upcoming matches to entertain the whole world with his cricket.

I hope you all have enjoyed reading and watching such an wonderful cricket who has revolutionized the cricket. His new shot selection has opened paths for making runs in a modern way which was a mystery in cricket but after his adaption now it has become very common to see player playing such shots that were a mere dream in cricket.

once again I salute to AB De Villiers and wish him all the best for his remaining career.