AB de Villiers Names Three Best Batsmen He Played With Or Against

AB de Villiers is currently in Australia for the ongoing Big Bash League. The South Africa legend had a stunning outing in the Mzansi Premier League and will be looking to continue the same form when he plies his trade for Brisbane Heat. AB de Villiers will make his much-anticipated debut in the BBL against Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday (January 14).

AB de Villiers has already fired a warning to the other teams by saying that he has arrived in Australia “in some of the best form of my career”. The right-handed batsman slammed 325 runs at a strike rate of 152.58 for the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League, and has hit four half-centuries in his past six innings.

“I felt in some of the best form of my career. Hopefully we’ll see more of that in this tournament,” de Villiers said.

“I know what’s required of me to make a play for the team. There’s 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,” he added.

Also Read: Sledging Him Was A Waste Of Time: Tim Paine Reveals The India Player Who Does Not Get Bothered By Sledging

Best he played with or against:

As AB de Villiers gears up to make his bow in the BBL, he was asked to name the five best batsmen he played with or against. The former South Africa captain played with or against a host of legendary players. He shared the dressing room with the likes of Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith and played against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkar, Virender Sehwag and many more.

However, he could only come up with three names and those three were Australia star Steve Smith, his former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith and his Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli.

“Very limited in his technique but he finds a way. Just an amazing character,” said AB de Villiers about Steve Smith 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. Virat Kohli is similar. The kind of guy you don’t talk on the field.”

Here is the clip where AB de Villiers could be seen naming the three best batsmen:

Who's AB's fave?

With AB de Villiers' Brisbane Heat debut tonight, hear which batters the South African great rates the highest. #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/w8SHEiA0ZL

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 13, 2020