AB de Villiers at his vintage best

AB de Villiers barely fails to mesmerise people with his astonishing and mind-boggling shots. When he plays a shot, the purists of the game start researching in their cricketing dictionary to find out what name it can be called. Such is the brilliance of this man, who can take the game a mile away from the opposition in a matter of minutes all by himself.

He registered his slowest fifty in T20 cricket when he got to that mark in 49 balls against England in the first T20I a few days ago. People were a bit worried if the magician AB is unable to pull off something jaw-dropping he might be inching closer to an end. But its AB de Villiers folks, a fighter par excellence who never gives and comes back stronger than ever before.

In the second T20 International between England and South Africa at Taunton, the Proteas skipper played swashbuckling innings, firing them to a big score in their 20 overs. He amassed 46 runs off just 20 balls at a strike rate more than 200 and he was quite a predicament yesterday for the English bowling contingent.

“The ABD Shot”

Just before he got out, de Villiers played a ridiculously amazing shot, which is really hard to describe in words. He has played this shot time and again throughout his career, a cross-batted swing getting on his knees, off a fast bowler. You can neither call it a sweep nor a pull, it’s time we call it the “ABD shot” because a definition for it doesn’t exist in the book.

The way he brings the 360-degree element into play by getting on to his knees and moving in the crease makes people go “Wow”. To add to it, the ball travels a mighty distance whenever he attempts these shots, making everyone wonder how does this guy generate so much power when he gives himself so less time to adjust to the line and length.

Well, that’s ABD for you! When he gets going, South Africa gets going and keeps every cricket fan on the edge of his seat.

Watch this tremendous shot he played yesterday off David Willey, which travelled nearly a mile.

Loved this huge six from @ABdeVilliers17 Astonishing ,, #ENGvSA #ENGvsSA #Savseng pic.twitter.com/7LgbZjoL12

— Siddhu Manchikanti (@TravelwithSid) June 23, 2017