AB de Villiers Birthday: Major records held by the legend in international cricket

Legendary South African cricketer AB De Villiers turned 39 on February 17 (Friday). Mr. 360, as he is lovingly called by his fans all around the globe, broke several records in his career spanning over 17 years.

He announced his arrival in international cricket in style as he scored 362 runs at an average greater than 40 with two half-centuries and a century in his maiden Test series, which was against England in 2004-05. In the ODIs, the South African legend took some time to get going as he scored his first-half century in his 17^th innings in the format. He brought up his first ODI hundred against the West Indies in ODI World Cup 2007. de Villiers’ knock of 146 off 130 powered his team to a total of 356/4 as South Africa won by 67 runs.

Over the years, the Pretoria-born batter added several new shots to his repertoire, adapting to the demands of the game. His breathtaking strokeplay in the second half of his career left the commentators, fans as well as the opponents, completely awestruck.

There was nothing that the former South African captain couldn’t do on the field. He could keep wickets, take sensational catches in the outfield, play defensive knocks in Tests and could turn real cricket into video game mode with his mind-boggling innings against the white-ball.

As the world basks in the glory of the successful career of the South African legend on his birthday, let’s take a look at some of the major records held by him in international cricket:

25 - AB de Villiers has the second-most centuries for South Africa in ODIs.

77 - He also has the second-most 50+ scores for South Africa in ODIs.

11 - He is joint-top with Rishabh Pant and Jack Russell for most catches as a wicketkeeper in a Test match 

78  - de Villiers registered his first duck after a record 78 innings.

16 - He is joint-second for most sixes in an ODI innings, having hit 16 sixes against West Indies in his record knock of 149 off just 44 balls in 2015.

31 - In the same match against West Indies, de Villiers recorded the fastest half-century (16 balls) and century in ODI history (31 balls).

64 - In addition to fastest fifty and ton in ODI history, de Villiers also holds the record for the fastest 150 in the format. He reached 150 in just 64 balls against West Indies in 2015 ODI World Cup, eventually ending with an unbeaten 162 off 66 in the game.

75 - de Villiers holds the record for scoring the fastest Test century for South Africa. He reached his century in just 75 balls against India in Centurion in 2010 before being dismissed for 129 off 112.

166 - de Villiers is the third-fastest to miletstones of 7000 and 8000 runs in ODIs. He notched up 7000 runs in 166 innings, while the 8000-run mark in 182 innings. 

205 - He is also the second-fastest to 9000 runs in ODIs (205 innings).

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