AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis have known each other for a long time. Long before they became the mainstay of Proteas batting order, both of them played in the same age group sides and as if that was not enough, both of them shared a room at the hostel, during their years at Affies from 1998 to 2002.
Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers were popular even among non-cricket enthusiasts. Both played for the school’s first cricket team when they were only 15. The duo were the best batsmen and needless to say that there was a healthy rivalry between the lads.
Faf du Plessis's parents wanted him to pursue his studies. Du Plessis' best friend at that time – ABD, then a budding cricketer, had registered for a degree in sports science, so Du Plessis decided to proceed in the same direction
"I thought I would tag along and I went to the university, but that day there was a queue, so I just decided I didn't want to do it. Three months later, AB also stopped studying because he said it was a waste of time. We both wanted to play cricket full time."
It was all rosy between the two friends until ABD got a call from the national side and he made sure never to look back again. Faf had no choice but to wait for his turn as he continued on to play franchise cricket. As Faf said in a video interview to ProteaCricket:
“It was a bit of an issue for me, for sure. I wanted it just as badly - too badly, maybe."
For six years Faf du Plessis studied AB de Villiers and learned from his exploits. It was certain that he had no choice but to keep performing in domestic cricket until he got noticed.
"I said that I would grow in my own time. I took pressure off myself and thought that when I did get selected for South Africa, I would know my game. I would have played a lot of cricket and I would understand my game better, and that's exactly what happened"
Faf had admitted that there was no jealousy as he watched his great mate scale one milestone after another.
“He was playing for South Africa and I was following every game, every ball. I remember the day before his test match against England I went to his house and for some reason he ended up sleeping on the couch and I was sleeping on the bed and he actually got a hundred in that game. He is a freak, he could do anything”
The spirit of competitiveness between the two has always existed but that doesn’t mean that they don’t enjoy each other’s success.
“The day that I made my debut for South Africa was also a really proud moment for Ab de Villiers. I could just see how much it meant to him that I was now playing with him in the same test team and that our journey as kids and dreams as kids was the same but also the finish, the story’s ending is the same – We are playing in the same team. He is captain of the ODI side and I am captain of the T20 team and we complement each other really well”
AB has never ben shy to sing praises of Faf capability and his quick adaptability to the game despite blooming at such a late age at the international arena. During a successful tri-series tour of Zimbabwe where South Africa defeated the much acclaimed Australian team, Faf played a pivotal role in sealing the series victory by scoring 3 centuries and a 98 on the tour.
De Villiers praised his hostel roommate by saying that:
“It is certainly the best form he has shown at the international level but I've always known that he was capable of doing that. It is great to have our no. 3 slot cemented down by a guy who is in a great from and a guy with a great cricket brain”
Though they may be buddies off the field but it is no mistaking the fact that ABD is the senior pro on the park. Faf has respected this fact and has always sought advice from ABD in times of need. Who can forget the herculean effort by Faf to save the game in Adelaide 2012 against a fierce Aussie attack. He had fought it out for six long hours. Faf felt drained and the Aussie were masterful at sledging him throughout the course of his innings.
“I asked the physiotherapist for some pain tablets and AB de Villiers came to me and said, 'Keep fighting because you don't understand how much this means for the people back home. If you get through this, your career will be changed.I remember asking AB to keep me positive, because we were playing so defensively it's easy to creep into your shell and get a bit lazy. I asked him to talk to me every second or third ball"
Cheers to AB “The Superman” and Faf “The Marathon Man”
Leaving aside all the vricketing stuff, the two are an integral part of each other’s personal life as well. When De Villiers recorded “Maak Jou Drome Waar” (Make Your Dreams Come True) with singer-songwriter Ampie du Preez in 2010, Du Plessis appeared in the song’s video. When Du Plessis married Imari Visser last November, De Villiers was his best man. Faf Du Plessis offered to provide kitchen tips to AB soon after he had been engaged.
Well, it has been quite obvious to the naked eye that AB has by far been more talented of the two. Faf has humbly stated the greatness of AB The Freak may a times. Despite this, Faf has emerged out of the shadows and carved a niche for himself.
The fruitful moments on and off the fields with his old mate AB de Villiers has ensured that South African Cricket has taken positive strides. Being so close to each other they both can help create a positive atmosphere in the dressing room.AB leads the side in the longer version of the game while Faf is the skipper in the shortest format of the game. Both have led the team by example and now form the rock-solid South African batting line.
One hopes that these two outrageously talented buddies be a part of many more Proteas victory and take Cricket South Africa to never seen before heights. While all the Cricketing Pundits have fixed their gaze of AB, in the background Faf is busy coming up with the goods as and when required. He is no more the sidekick to the brilliant AB. InfacIn factcould have his own super-hero action figure if he wants to.
It is a friendship that the cricketing fans will never get tired of watching.
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