VIDEO | AB de Villiers lives upto 'Mr. 360' moniker with innovative switch-hit in MSL

11/17/2018

Don’t you feel that the entire bowling community had thanked their gods when AB de Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket? If they didn't they should because AB just reminded them of what he was capable of by executing a brilliant switch-hit that rocked the Newlands crowd.

AB de Villiers’ shocking retirement in May earlier this year was most unfortunate for any cricket fan. The innovative batsman, whose ability to maneuver any ball at any part of the ground had led to him being named Mr. 360, had retired quite early for a cricketer. However, fans kept waiting with baited breathe as soon as he had clarified that he would still feature in the T20 leagues around the world.

Their six-month wait didn’t go to waste as the batsman has returned for South Africa’s domestic Mzansi Super League and he has returned with a bang. Playing for Tshwane Spartans, he was against Dawid Malan-led Cape Town Blitz in the first game of the season and he gave a reminder of what South Africa have been missing in the last few months.

Chasing a heavy target of 180, Spartans were reduced to 27/2 in the sixth over itself when de Villiers came on to bat. He has been in such pressure situations numerous times before with IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore, and he didn’t look unsettled at all. And with a reliable Dean Elgar on the other end, he looked to start off slowly with his first boundary coming on the sixth ball.

However, he got into the groove in no time with a packed Newlands crowd getting to see their favourite player in his ruthless avatar again. The incident happened in the 11th over after Elgar had returned to the pavilion. In an attempt to accelerate the innings, de Villiers took on George Linde for a massive six with a shot that looked like a reverse sweep. England’s Kevin Pietersen had first perfected the art with the shot being named ‘switch hit’, and AB seemed to have picked up a thing or two during his hiatus.