AB de Villiers' mother reveals why he chose cricket over other professional sports

AB de Villiers became the seventh South African to play 100 Test matches

South Africa’s all rounder AB de Villiers is currently playing his 100th Test at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. This occasion was made more special by his family’s presence on the first day.

Though the Proteas failed to put up a good show in their first innings, ABD displayed his batting skills by scoring 85 runs.

The 31-year-old cricketer’s father admitted that missing a century was disappointing. According to a report by ABP, he said, “Yes, it’s disappointing but that’s how cricket goes. I think he was chasing his hundred because wickets fell one after the other but I think that score today was more important to him than making a hundred.”

AB senior also said how the cricketer was equally good when it came to other sports. He said, “I used to think lying in bed at night that Ernie Els would see this lad, because he’s striking the golf ball so magnificently. Later on there was tennis.” Father of cricket’s one of the best all rounder had other plans for his son. “Coming from an academic family, I would have loved him to have a degree. But this is much better,” he said.

The 31-year-old’s mother Millie said her son was “very much a team guy”. “He’s not one who will do very well in individual sport. He will miss the guys around him. He actually made the decision (to take up cricket) based on that as well,” He loved his friends, the house was always full of his mates. They were always playing games,” she added.

South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo was disappointed with his batsmen’s performance but praised the ODI captain’s innings. He said, “AB played beautifully for his 85. It was a good pitch… We simply didn’t play well today. There were far too many soft dismissals. It’s a matter of taking the right decision and choosing the right option… We didn’t do that today.”

The cricketer’s wife Danielle and their three-month old son were also present on the special day.