World in debt to Russell Domingo for the 31 ball 100 from AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers in his recently released autoobiography has revealed that the South African coach Russell Domingo is one of the prime reasons for his record breaking fastest one-day international century from 31 balls against West Indies at the Wanderers in January 2015.

De Villiers came into the crease in the 39th over after the openers, Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw, adding 247 runs for the first wicket. After 10 overs, he left the field to a standing ovasion after adding 149 runs from just 44 balls to the team total. South Africa posted 439 runs on board and restricted the Windies to 7-291 as they won the match by 148 runs.

De Villiers revealed that he suggested to the coach Domingo to promote the aggressive batsman David Miller ahead of him as the team crossed the 200-run mark without the loss of any wickets. But the coach refused and the rest is history.

“In the changing room, as our score passes 200 without loss, I approach Russell Domingo, our coach,” De Villiers wrote in AB: The Autobiography.

“‘Let David Miller go in next, coach,’ I say. ‘This is perfect for him.’ ‘No Abbas, you’re next,’ he replies, firmly.

“That doesn’t make sense. Sulieman Benn still has two overs to bowl and, if somebody gets out, Miller should go in and have a full go at the left-arm spinner who typically turns the ball in to the left-hander. The situation is made for him. We’re 1-0 up in the five-match series, and we’re expected to win, but we need to take every opportunity. (Hashim) Amla and (Rilee) Rossouw are still going well, dominating, taking the score past 220. It’s worth another try. ‘Coach, I’m serious, Dave should go in next.’,” De Villiers tried to explain to the coach.

“‘No, you’re the best man for this situation.’,” replied Domingo.

“The scoreboard keeps moving as Hash strokes another boundary through extra cover. I’m sitting on the physiotherapy bed in our dressing room. Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien are around, and we’re enjoying the buzz of another ‘pink’ Sunday at the Wanderers, the annual ODI when the Proteas and most of spectators dress in pink to raise funds for awareness and the fight against breast cancer.”

“I’m nervous. This is my 177th one-day international but I feel as anxious as I did in my first. ‘It will never change,’ I say out loud, to nobody in particular.”

“‘What?’,” teammate Faf asked.

“The nerves – I always get nervous before I bat. As I speak, Rilee is caught in the deep, out for 128. Our score is 247 for one. I’m up next. I grab my bat and made my way down the stairs. As I do, I trip and stumble. Faf and Dale burst out laughing,” de Villiers explains.

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He started off his innings with a boundary and smashed a hat-trick of sixes to take his score pass the 50-run mark at record pace, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls to eclipse Sanath Jayasuriya’s 17-ball record.

His shot through mid-wicket of the bowling off the opposition skipper Jason Holder marks the fastest ever ODI hundred. He completed with 16 sixes equalling the record for most sixes with India’s Rohit Sharma. He was caught at deep cover with two balls remaining in the innings as he went searching for the world record 17th six, which brings an end to one of the greatest ever batting displays.