AB de Villiers interview: South Africa legend ready for some ‘posh cricket’ in long-awaited domestic debut

Ready to fire | AB de Villiers is looking forward to playing county cricket
Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

AB de Villiers says he is looking forward to playing cricket the “posh way”, as he prepares to make his long-awaited English domestic debut at Lord’s this evening.

The South Africa legend is set to star for Middlesex in this year’s T20 Vitality Blast, which begins today, in a move that has been in the pipeline for several years.

One of the greatest limited-overs players of all time, De Villiers’ talents have seen him play in franchise leagues around the world, including every season of the IPL since its inception, but his only previous appearances on these shores have come in South Africa colours.

“I’m very excited,” De Villiers told Standard Sport, ahead of tonight’s opener against Essex. “I have never played county cricket before, so I can’t wait to get going.

“The tradition here, the culture, you always feel like people watching you really understand the game, they follow it well, they clap at the right times. It reminds me of Wimbledon, they’re very big on the traditions, the culture and the history of the game.

AB de Villiers celebrates a century against Australia in March, 2018 Photo: REUTERS
REUTERS

“It’s almost a posh way of playing cricket. I’ve always enjoyed that, showing off a bit, and, hopefully, I’ll have a good tournament and show my class. This is where you want to play cricket, so I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Tonight’s fixture will be the first held at Lord’s since Sunday’s epic World Cup Final. England and Middlesex captain Eoin Morgan will not take part so soon after that thrilling contest, but could be back next week to face Surrey.

3 one-day records held by De Villiers - fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and  150 (64 balls). 

980 fours and 264 sixes smashed in ODIs  and T20s by the South African.

101.1 strike rate in ODIs - the highest figure among the leading  25 runscorers.

4,395 runs scored in the IPL, with three 100s, 33 50s and a high score of 133no.

Despite facing the unenviable challenge of following perhaps the greatest cricket match of all-time, De Villiers is relishing the chance to perform in front of the nation’s cricket fans as they bask in the post-World Cup glow.

“That [final] was incredible,” the 35-year-old said. “It was difficult to believe what I was witnessing, just an incredible game of cricket. The minute I realised it was a tie I said, ‘This is not happening!’

“It’s one hell of an achievement. It’s great for the game in England. I just can’t wait. It’s going to be very interesting to step out there.”

De Villiers and Morgan already have history. As well as playing against each other on the international stage, the pair are friends from when England’s ODI skipper stayed with the former Proteas captain during his stint in South Africa’s T20 league last year — and the overseas signing was thrilled by his new team-mate’s Lord’s success.

De Villiers in action against England at Lord's in 2012 Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

“It’s just an incredible story and a great achievement,” De Villiers said. “I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for him, his whole life story of where he came from to achieve what he has. He’s a humble guy, never got ahead of himself, and he’s played some incredible knocks around the world.

“He stayed at my house for a few days [while playing for Tshwane Spartans], so we know each other a little better now. We played a bit of golf here and there, had a couple of glasses of red. I’m looking forward to catching up with him.”

De Villiers also shed light on his offer to come out of international retirement for the World Cup, insisting: “It was something I had to get off my chest.”

He retired from international cricket in May of last year, in order to spend more time with his family, but during South Africa’s disastrous World Cup campaign it emerged that he had spoken to current Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, on the eve of the tournament about a possible return, a move which was heavily criticised in his homeland.

“It’s almost a posh way of playing cricket. I’ve always enjoyed that, showing off a bit, and, hopefully, I’ll have a good tournament and show my class. This is where you want to play cricket, so I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Ab de Villiers

De Villiers has denied ever demanding to be selected and claimed leaks to the media were “distorted to cast me in the worst possible light”, but he admits his timing was not ideal.

“It wasn’t meant to get out, it was a private conversation,” he said. “I won’t say I regret talking to Faf about it, it was just something I had to get off my chest and possibly left it a little bit late.

“Having listened to some of the rumours [about a return] I felt that it was necessary just to give Faf a call. The rest is history, but it was supposed to stay between us.”

With De Villiers on board, Middlesex will be looking to improve on a torrid recent record in the shortest format of the game.

De Villiers opens a non-turf cricket pitch in Deptford Park

Last season, they finished bottom of the South Division after winning just two of their 14 matches and are yet to reach the semi-final stage since the Blast was created in 2014.

However, De Villiers, who met up with his new team-mates for the first time on Wednesday, believes they have what it takes to enjoy a successful season.

“We’re a very talented side, a good team,” he said. “And remember, it doesn’t take the best team to win tournaments.”