AB de Villiers is Mr 360 for a reason

Over 20,000 runs in international cricket, back-to-back ICC awards, Wisden cricketer of the decade, the fastest 50, the fastest hundred, the fastest 150 and the only ODI batsman to score 9000 runs at over a run-a-ball with an average exceeding 50 – the list of achievements of the South-African superstar is endless, but the conclusion to every AB de Villiers discussion is almost always the same: that he redefined batting.

The truth is, De Villiers didn’t just redefine batting; he revolutionised the whole game.

Bowlers were made to think out of the box, batsmen were forced to betray orthodoxy, and fielders were inspired to go the extra mile. He changed the way people looked at the game and even added a few new leaves to the modern ‘textbook’, by normalising non-conformity.

Mr 360 for a reason
While the inimitable reverse slam-dunk of NBA star Victor Oladipo earned him the title ‘Mr 360’ in basketball, AB de Villiers being called ‘360’ goes beyond his exploits at the batting crease.

From captaining the side and guarding the stumps to taking ‘Jonty Rhodish’ catches in the infield and running people out from bizarre angles, AB has done it all in his 15-year career, and it is only befitting for an all-round performer of his stature to be labeled the Mr 360 of cricket.

Contrary to his team’s past record, he has invariably done well under pressure – snatching success from near defeat on several occasions.

The first true test of fortitude came in 2008 when an in-form Australian side set South Africa a stiff target of 414 to chase at Perth, during the first Test of the series.

With a brilliant fourth innings hundred on a fifth day pitch, a young De Villiers helped his side chase it down – making it one of the most remarkable victories in Test match history.

In 2010, he impressed the cricketing world again by scoring a flashy 278 against Pakistan under the scorching Abu Dhabi sun – when his team was tottering at 33-3.

Even when he made a comeback to the Test side after a two-year-break, the South African played two defining knocks in the series against India (65, 80), both of which propelled his country to victory after an early collapse (12-3, 3-2) in low scoring affairs.

What makes De Villiers different, without a doubt, is his versatility.

The man could score a hundred off five overs or hang around in a Test match for an entire day, resisting the temptation of attempting a single scoring shot.

Sounds metaphorical? Here’s an example.

AB de Villiers (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

In the tour of Australia in 2012, South Africa was set a target of 430 to win on a wearing Adelaide pitch, with almost 150 overs of play left. At 45-4, the Proteas knew that a win on a fifth day pitch was far from attainable.

A determined de Villiers hung around for nearly 70 overs – scoring 33 off 220 balls – giving company to a more ‘aggressive’ Faf du Plessis, who scored 100 off 376 balls, saving the Test match for South Africa in the process.

The difference in pace of building his fastest ODI knock (149 off 44 against West Indies), and his slowest Test innings (43 off 297 against India) tells you a lot about AB’s proficiency at adapting to different conditions.

As much as he admires textbook defence, AB de Villiers enjoys unorthodox stroke play at its highest level.

Everything from the trademark scoop to the hoick over fine leg looks graceful when he plays it, and the resounding success of it has forced many young cricketers and even coaches, to accept and adopt his style.

Hundreds in the middle order
The most arduous task for a middle-order batsman in ODI cricket is to score hundreds at the back-end of the innings.

Even with the game becoming more batsman-friendly, middle-order players who arrive at the halfway stage often miss out on an opportunity to score big, because of insufficient time.

Not surprisingly, only three batsmen in world cricket have been able to score a hundred coming into bat after the 25th over.

Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler have managed to do it twice, but it’s AB de Villiers who tops the list with a whopping five tons!

In fact, in his record-breaking knock of 149 against the West Indies, AB walked out to bat with just 11 overs to spare.

Best finisher
For any batsman coming in at No.5, donning the role of the finisher is an inescapable obligation, but to be the best at it is only a choice. And that’s where De Villiers outclassed the rest.

India’s MS Dhoni did give him a run for his money at his prime, but even as Dhoni’s performance declined, De Villiers kept ageing like a fine wine.

Post-retirement, De Villiers amassed 1583 runs from 44 innings in the IPL, striking the ball at 162.53 with 119 fours, 89 sixes and 18 half-centuries, all while maintaining an impressive average of 48.67, putting an end to that debate once and for all.

Very few cricketers have managed to impress crowds on a global scale with such consistency. Perhaps that’s what makes AB de Villiers the legend he is.

As Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle puts it: “We only hear people talk about the ‘big four’ in world cricket – Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steve Smith; that’s because there is a legend who is playing on another level who can’t be on that list – his name is AB de Villiers.”