'AB de Villiers' record ODI hundred off 31 balls could make him the best batsman of all time'
South Africa captain showed phenomenal improvisation, strength and intelligence...
Thursday 22 January 2015 10:45, UK
AB de Villiers could well be the best batsman of all time, says Bob Willis, after blasting the fastest century in one-day international history off just 31 balls.
De Villiers struck 16 sixes and nine fours as he raced to 149 off 44 deliveries against West Indies in the second ODI at Johannesburg.
The 30-year-old South African captain needed five fewer balls than previous record-holder Corey Anderson to reach three figures – the New Zealander taking 36 deliveries to plunder a hundred off West Indies in January 2014.
South Africa racked up 439-2 in their 50 overs after openers Hashim Amla (153no) and Rilee Rossouw (128) put on 247 for the first wicket but their efforts were overshadowed by De Villiers’ fireworks.
“It was a stunning spectacle watching the three of them make hundreds but AB de Villiers was absolutely outstanding,” said Willis.
“I’ve been saying for the last 30 years that Viv Richards has to be the best batsman of all time – even better than Sir Don Bradman in my book – but I’m going to have to reassess because this guy is something extraordinary.
“The improvisation, the strength, the intelligence – knowing exactly where every fielder is and where the gaps are – were unbelievable.
“He must have a fantastic eye. He said down at Durban that he was really looking forward to batting at the Wanderers and didn’t he entertain that crowd?
“It was a superb demonstration of skilful, controlled hitting. There were hardly any swings and misses. Most of his shots were authentic cricket shots rather than slogs or ones that he’d made up himself.
“This guy is just phenomenal – not just in the slog-fest that is T20 but in the longer form of the game; in Test match cricket he is right up there at the top of the tree as well.
“South Africa are so lucky to have Amla and De Villiers at the same time and so should be the rest of the cricket-watching public around the world.”
De Villiers missed out on scoring the fastest 150 in ODI history when he was caught at deep extra cover off Andre Russell with two balls left having shown a staggering array of strokes all around the ground.
“We have to thank T20 for bringing in all of these improvised shots,” said Willis. “Michael Slater and Adam Gilchrist changed the face of Test cricket, getting the average run-rate up to nearly four an over and it has just kicked on from there in the last 10 years.
“There is so much one-day cricket being played that the game has really accelerated this improvisation in batman-ship.
“Can one physically get a hundred in less than 31 balls? It’s going to take a bit of doing. You get the old stick in the muds saying ‘it’s not like it was in our day’ but this is amazing entertainment, amazing skill, dedication, practice. AB de Villiers is a winner.”
