It was clear the then 21-year-old, who had only played 11 Tests and been in the South African team for six months, needed to hone his game, and Arthurs believed keeping de Villiers at the top of the order alongside captain Graeme Smith would provide the fillip for long-term success.
AB de Villiers plays shots other batsmen can't even imagine. SportzpicsAB de Villiers plays shots other batsmen can't even imagine. Sportzpics
“We came into the South African side nearly at the same time and my initial thoughts were that AB was exceptional and that he would eventually become the best batsman in the world,” Arthur told Firstpost. “But he needed to tighten his batting, as he was a little loose at times. Being an opener makes a batsman have to iron out their technique and it tests their mental fortitude. It was a great initiation for AB and one that I think has contributed to his enormous success throughout the years.”
Fast forward a decade and de Villiers, stating the obvious, is regarded as the best batsman in the world. The extensive superlatives are endless. Notably, he’s been described as the most freakish batsman ever, a player defying the conventions of batting with his incredible array of breathtaking and highly effective hitting.
De Villiers’ eclectic ability has been showcased for Royal Challengers Bangalore during the Indian Premier League, especially his mesmerising 11-ball 41 against Mumbai which included an astounding shot that melted social media and was broadcasted globally. Against express bowler Lasith Malinga, de Villiers improvised with a ‘hockey shot’ as he attempted a reverse paddle sweep and it flew to fine leg for a boundary. The astonishing shot confirmed de Villiers’ unparalleled ability to craft strokes to every part of the cricket field. There is no corner immune to him plundering runs.
Arthurs, who coached South Africa during a successful five-year reign from 2005-2010, believes de Villiers’ inventive batting emanates from a healthy fusion of preparedness and intuitiveness. “It doesn’t surprise me the shots he comes up with because he practices really hard,” he says. “He has incredible hand-eye coordination and that provides him with the rare ability to improvise at the last moment. His instinctiveness allows him to alter his shot in the last second. His shots generally aren’t pre-meditated, which makes it so hard for the bowler.”
After his brilliant World Cup, where he scored 482 runs at an average of 96.4 with a strike rate of 144, it is clear de Villiers is in his prime. He’s at the career stage – aged 31 with 10 years of international experience – where batsmen traditionally thrive. But as he boldly demonstrated against Mumbai, de Villiers continues to add to his array of trickery in a determined effort to stay ahead of the evolving nature of the game.
“He continually reinvents his game to keep getting better,” Arthur says. “He always believes he can get better and that is why his batting just keeps soaring to new heights.”
It is not only de Villiers’ destructiveness and resourcefulness that sets him apart. Others have warranted comparison, notably Glenn Maxwell after his audacious batting was a rampant success in Australia’s World Cup triumph. But Maxwell, at this stage anyway, is merely a specialist in the shorter formats.
De Villiers averages 52 from 98 Tests, and could very well be regarded as the best batsman in each of cricket’s three formats – the ultimate testament to his incomparable versatility.
While de Villiers’ creativity garners the plaudits, Arthur believes his orthodoxy is the catalyst for his success across the formats. “I think AB is really correct with his technique,” Arthur says. “He sets up really well and is in a good position when the bowler delivers. His solid foundation allows him to do extraordinary things.”
De Villiers’ has become a prototype, as young batsmen clamour to mimic his imitable style. But Arthurs believes there is one legend from the past who possessed similar characteristics to the South African. “Viv Richards is probably the only batsman who had the talent, technique, audacity and creativity to rival AB,” he says. “Brian Lara perhaps too had the ability to shift gears so profoundly but he wasn’t as innovative. Sachin Tendulkar was so elegant and could dominate but he probably didn’t quite have the flair of AB and Viv.”
Sill in the midst of his pomp, de Villiers is set to cement his legacy as a cricket marvel in the ensuing years. “I think great players should be judged on their ability to win games and AB is the ultimate match-winner,” Arthur says. “When his career is over, AB will remembered as one of the greatest ever cricketers.”
courtesy: first post