Another one bites the dust... AB de Villiers is out of the Champions League. Cricket South Africa has withdrawn him because he complained about his lower back pain. Bad luck for his domestic team, the Nashua Titans.

"I am obviously disappointed to miss the Champions League," he said "and I wish the Daredevils all the best for the tournament."-AB de Villiers

"I think, in the next two years, we will be bringing home the trophies. It will be our time." -AB de Villiers


"We are a process-driven side and as long as we keep working as a team I am happy, the team has enjoyed successes together for some time now and as long as they all produce in their roles, we will do well. Whichever team strings five good performances together during the event will win. We are extremely comfortable with the two venues the tournament will be played at (Supersport Park, Centurion and The Wanderers, Johannesburg) We've had some good results at both stadiums in the past and we receive lots of local support there as well." -Mickey Arthur


"They know the conditions better than anyone else and, given their performances of late, they will have a lot of crowd support. They would have probably have wanted to play two or three one-day games to be really firing, especially since almost all the other teams have been in action recently. While I would have said that would work in favour of other teams, I think its negated by the fact that South Africa are at home. I think there are seven out of the eight teams who could stand a chance of winning (He did not want to make public which team he thought was not going to be in contention.). But I do think the four semi-finalists will be South Africa, Australia, India and Sri Lanka. Then again you underestimate New Zealand at your peril and depending on which Pakistan team shows up, they could be dangerous as well. It will definitely mean something for them to win and it certainly counts more than any normal series. Doing well in the competition will certainly give them confidence ahead of the 2011 World Cup," -Shaun Pollock

I don't recall posting this before. In this video AB took the Delhi Daredevils to a Super 14 rugby match during the IPL in SA.

Calling all ladies.... All Access went behind AB de Viliier's photoshoot for Men's Health Magazine.

Warning: He brought his guitar along.

Video: AB de Villiers

"It's the hardest I have trained with this team. We run three or four times every day, attend net sessions, sweat in the gym and work on our fitness in the pool ...We came short a few times, but there are many players in the team that are eager to improve. We believe we are the best team in the world and now is a good chance to prove that...I was very consistent the last year, but can improve in several areas. There's a big season ahead and no reason why we cannot win a number of trophies...We have not played much cricket in recent times, but have a few training games behind us. I believe we are all professional enough to gear ourselves mentally for the tournament." de Villiers said.

Dale Steyn has been nominated for the ICC's Test Player of the Year and Wayne Parnell for the T20 Performance of the Year.

Meanwhile news is that Smith is still recovering from his elbow surgery and Parnell has the flu. Give the boy Tamiflu, stat!

Found this on YouTube, it's kind of old. For more AB videos go check out his website

Yet again, AB de Villiers has stolen a fans' choice award. The fans showed their love for AB when they chose him as the YOU Magazine's favourite sportsman of 2009.

“This is my second award this season determined by the fans and it means a lot. We play for them and they drive interest in the game. It is a great combination. I look forward to the fans coming out to support the Proteas in the ICC Champions Trophy."


A little gossip: The man has been house-sitting for Mark Boucher over the weekend. He had to go all the way to Cape Town to look after Bouch's house, who went to visit his family in East London. What a good friend. But to be honest, AB had to be in Cape Town for a photoshoot. Watch out for the next Men's Health issue, ladies! The next day he was off to Somerset to take part in a coaching clinic for Francois Pienaar's "Make A Difference" charity.

Purna's top 10 reasons why Botha should be captain

1) Botha's already making fewer mistakes than Smithy did when he first started.
2) He is not egg-headed and is willing to learn.
3) CLEARLY takes his fitness seriously
4)He's not a tense tight ass on the field, which could spread a negative vibe in crunch situations.
5) He, along with ROFL gives SA hope that they have a chance in WC 2011.
6) He doesn't say 'Look' as often as Smithy...it's just so fucking annoying!
7) He can bat and bowl AND be a useful captain.
8) There are 18 Anti-Graeme clubs on FB as opposed to Botha's 5.
9) Graeme needed to break his hand to be a hero...Botha does it with his bowling :P
10) Botha has a smaller chin. It helps with the catching when the ball is close to the ground. I swear..ask Rhodes!

I found some videos I thought I'd share. The first one I dedicate to Missy & Morne-lover. The second is just some crazy Saffers and the last one is from last years CSA Golf day. (There is an interview with Bif, just for Purna. Did he say "ah, look" ?)

Sports Illustrated had a little interview with AB de Villiers after he won the Standard Bank One-Day International Cricketer of the Year and SuperSport Fans' Cricketer of the Year Awards.

Favourite 20/20 shot?
"The straight drive."

Best innings in a 20/20 match?
"The best innings was my hundred (105 not out) against the Chennai Super Kings at Kingsmead in the Indian Premier League this year."

How do you prepare for a 20/20 game?
"I just prepare more mentally than anything else. I just make sure that I have got a creative mind walking out into the field. "

And does it differ from ODI to 20/20?
"A little bit, there is a bit of a change in the mindset, but not much. You obviously got more time to structure your innings. I start off with stretching and then I will hit a few balls to get my eye in and then catch the ball to get used to the conditions out there and then I am ready. Like I said, cricket is more in the mind than anything else. So I do all my hard work before the match and then it is just a matter of getting your mind ready for the game."

Why did South Africa fail again on the big stage at the Twenty20 World Cup? Choking has been thrown around, but was it just a case of the best team won on the day? "Ja, I thought we were the best team there and we are still the best side in the world I think, I believe. We played at 90% on the day instead of 100% and that’s sport. It was one of those things that happened. Unfortunately it was the semi-finals, but we have plenty of years to come and we have a very young squad. I know the next Twenty20 World Cup is next year again which is close, so hopefully we will be at full strength."

Why do you enjoy playing in the IPL?
"It’s fun! It’s exciting and there are big crowds. I just love playing 20/20 cricket – any form of cricket actually. The IPL was nice because it was over here this year. They put a lot of money into this tournament so it is always entertaining and exciting. So it is enjoyable. "

Would you ever consider playing County cricket?
"Hmm (laugh), maybe after my international career. But at the moment I don’t really have time for that. For now it is no, but maybe after my international career."

Who did you spent most of your time with during the IPL?
"I spent quite a bit of time with some of the Australian players in our team. Andrew McDonald, both our coaches were Australian, Dirk Nannes, David Warner and Daniel Vettori from New Zealand. All of us had a nice little group going there and then some of the Indian guys obviously also mingled with us. We just had a nice side and a good team spirit. "

Where does 20/20 cricket rank in your mind? Do you think it is still third behind Tests and One-dayers?
"No! Test match cricket is still the biggest challenge for me. I enjoy all three forms of the game. But Test cricket is definitely the biggest challenge for a cricketer."

Do you think one-day cricket (or Tests) should be discarded for the more favourable 20/20 cricket?
"No, not at all. I love all forms of the game. You can’t get rid of any of the forms of the game. Test cricket for me is just the biggest challenge and if I could choose between a better Test record or 20/20 record I would rather have a better Test record. But I do love all three forms of the game. " Who is the most dangerous ODI player at the moment? "I think Johan Botha. He is an unbelievable player and has had a wonderful season and I think he is the best ODI player."

When are you going to turn your arm (bowl) in a limited overs match? You seem to do everything else well!
(Extended laugh) "Ja, I don’t think that is ever going to happen. I will see if I can talk to Graeme [Smith] on the field one day when we are out in the middle. I will ask for an over or two!"

You recently appeared on the cover of SI, saying that you wanted to be the best Test batsman in the world. What improvements still need to be made for you to become the best limited overs batsman in the world? You are currently ranked sixth.
"I never ever said Test cricket. I want to be the best. But I think that every player starting off wants to be the best player in the world otherwise you shouldn’t be playing sport – you shouldn’t be playing at that level. So I did not say it in that way, but it came out that way and the media then turned it into that thing. But ja, I would love to be the best player in the world. I am going to work very hard to get there and do my best and if it comes off, so be it. I will be very happy. But I have a very long way to go and hopefully I can get very close one day or even be the best player. "

20/20 cricket has prolonged the careers of many great ODI cricketers – Sanath Jayasuriya springs to mind. Can you see yourself playing until 40?
"No. Not to 40. There is no chance. I think there is more to life than just playing cricket for 25 years. I will definitely find the right time to retire. When I start my family I am definitely going to retire. I am not going to wait till I am 40. "

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
"Massive influence. I think Jonty Rhodes. From a very young age, I think I was six or seven, no actually eight years-old when I watched the 1992 World Cup and saw his run out. And I really loved him from that day on and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When I met the guy and he worked with me, he definitely had the biggest influence on my career and he definitely did not disappoint. He is really an awesome person and we are good friends now. And I feel privileged to actually know the guy. He was my hero and he’s still my hero. "

Describe the feeling of winning both the Standard Bank One-Day International Cricketer of the Year and the SuperSport Fans' Cricketer of the Year?
"I am obviously very proud. It is awesome winning an award like that. It is tough to be singled out and win the award when you know that it is a team game and will always be a team game. There are a lot of guys who did not get a mention, but who really performed outstandingly this year. So it is tough to be singled out individually, but I feel very proud and honoured to get the award. It is good enough. But we had a good season like I said, but it was more a good season for the team and not the individual. So it is just a little silly thing to put up in my bar and just to have a look at one day. But I always remember that it is a team game."

Sport24 has a great article on AB's amazing year.

As India is heading back home, I would like to congratulate Graeme Smith on winning a toss. Well done, mate, I knew you'd get it right, one day. Good luck with the next one.

Thus far ,South Africa remains undefeated in the T20 World Cup. All thanks to AB de Villiers with his 63 from 51 balls and Johan Botha's 3 for 16. AB snatched the man of the match award for being the only batsman to get a half century. (The woes of a bowler. The batsman being favored, yet again.) Next time, Botha, next time. If Parnell could get it, then so can you.

Well done to Morne Morkel, who was standing in for an injured Jacques Kallis. This just goes to show that South Africa isn't a one-man-team. We played without Kallis and was still able to bag a win.