AB de Villiers

Cricket's Steve Jobs Calls It  A Day

Surya Shekhar Das

 

Shell-shocked.

And this was  the response expressed by the cricketing world. The South African champion cricketer AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all international cricket on 23 May 2018. Effectively, de Villiers has stunned the cricket aficionados across the globe. He was playing really well. In fact, he was in  his element as he was winning matches on his own. The typical old chutzpah of AB de Villiers was back. He was dishing out those unique, brilliant shots. He was taking some outlandish catches as well as effecting some jaws-dropping run outs. Like others, I too have thought that AB de Villiers will play till the 2019 World Cup. And suddenly he  announced his retirement. He said that he "is tired and has run out of gas."

Here comes the inevitable question. Why did AB (AB de Villiers is  fondly known as AB) quit far too ahead of the world cup ? Did he really run out the steam? As I have already mentioned, he was playing really well. Just think about the two South Africa versus India Test match this January. In the first Test match, South Africa were staring at the barrel at the very first hour of the match. Team India bowlers were bowling exceedingly well. At one time, the South Africans were reeling at 12/3. After picking 3 early wickets, captain Kohli was sensing blood. The Team India were sensing history. AB de Villiers arrived to the batting crease and discovered immediately that the pitch was like a green mamba and the Indian pace bowlers were spitting venom with consummate ease. In these extremely trying circumstances, anyone except de Villiers would have played an ultra defensive too safe game. And India knew very well that if they prised out de Villiers quickly, they could script a famous victory. AB thought differently. AB decided to execute his thoughts into action immediately. And he mounted a breathtaking counterattack. He hit the boundary number one. Then the two. Third and fourth came very fast. And the bat of AB retaliated against the Indians bowlers beautifully . AB came up with a magnificent reposte, South Africa roared back into the Test match, subsequently Indian bowlers lost their rhythm and the Proteas (South African) bowlers completed a famous victory. But it's AB who initiated a virtually unthinkable comeback from the dead for the Men from the land of Nelson Mandela. Even in the second Test, when the Team Indian pacers were almost ready to slit the throat of the South African batting, de Villiers engineered a terrific comeback. De Villiers launched a free flowing assault on the rampaging Indian pacers, he essentially turned  the game on its head. AB gave the much needed momentum from nowhere, the competent fast bowlers from the rainbow nation accomplished the rest of the  task. Effectively, AB's intent was so rock-solid against the all odds, it  spoke volumes about his indomitable soul as well as  the self-belief .It's easy to write about the intent, but it's extremely difficult to apply or execute it in the middle in an ever increasing difficult situation. When somebody likes AB achieves that, we must doff  our hat and say  this man is a genius. AB did same thing against the Australians in the Tests. And in this IPL, he has played some innings of unforgettable brilliance. And that gravity-defying catch of Alex Hales! The ball was destined to be a six. AB leaped like a superman and took a virtually impossible catch given the human standards! Virat Kohli said that it's a Spiderman stuff. Effectively, AB was flying like a free bird. He is the living embodiment of the supreme athleticism.

Why did he quit the international cricket, then ? Was fatigue the only reason? Was there any pressure from the South African Cricket Board? Or was  there any deep-seated, hidden reason? Whatever be the reasons, AB is a nature's freak. As a result you cannot define him within a specific parameter. He gives us a strong sense of his infinite skills. Leave alone Tendulkar, Lara, Pointing, Steve Smith, Joe Root or even Kohli, ...AB de Villiers is the only 360-degree, complete cricketer on this planet after the legendary Sir Gary Sobbers. Just think about his 31-ball century against West Indies in a 50-over match in 2015. It's the fastest century till today. In that match, he hit some monstrous sixes which might had given a stern message to the aliens in the universe - even a human being could be that competent beyond normal comprehension. It was such an innings that even a man couldn't play so fast in a video game or in a book cricket. AB can seamlessly manufacture any kinds of shots on a cricket ground. And if the situation demands, he can be monastic.How could we forget his match-saving 33 off 220 balls in more than 4-hour against a murderous Australian bowling lineup in 2013? It was a fifth day-ravaged Test match pitch. As a result, the pitch became extremely  unpredictable in nature. The more the Australian bowlers  hurled missiles at AB, the more he batted with monkish serenity. The level of concentration was of the highest order. It was such a gritty knock that pulled the match from the  iron-grip of the Aussies. And then his 43 off 297 balls against  India on a viciously turning track in 2015. Here AB cut his natural instincts, put premium on his wicket, applied to the task with a hitherto unseen work ethic and batted as if he was the last custodian of the entire Rainbow nation , i.e.,South Africa. It  is a forgone conclusion that he can be devastating with the bat, again he can serenely composed as well as unmovable in front of the wicket if the situation arises. If  you want to to enjoy  supreme method, follow Tendulkar or Kohli, but if you want to relish the magnificent madness, you better watch Lara or AB play. Nobody could discount Lara's epic 277 against Australia in a Test in 1993. It was the Calypso music at its very best. And then his century against the seemingly invincible Proteas in the 1996 World Cup on a sluggish track was for the ages. Lara played in an West Indies team that virtually lost the typical Caribbean flavour as well as  the vigour. When he was batting, his partners were falling like nine pins. But Lara batted as if he was blissfully aware of the grim reality. His colleagues were playing callous shots and getting out, Lara was dishing out some shots of outrageous brilliance. In a team infested with self-destructors, the Caribbean prince was the supreme entertainer with the bat. Like Lara, AB has found each and every cricket ball like brand new adventure. At times, he has dribbled past Lara. AB, with his crystal clear mind, has invented unique strokes. He could hit a 90-mile pin-pointed yorker for a colossal six. He could sweep a 150-km fast delivery for a well orchestrated maximum. If the game of cricket is a civilisation, AB is one of the most prestigious, seemingly infinite sculptures. If  somebody says that he has played for 14 years and scored more than 20000 international runs, it is mere a dry statistics. AB's contribution to the game has gone well beyond the numbers that he generated. In many ways, he has changed a series of new dimensions into the game. If Kohli is the CEO of a MNC, the Australian Steve Smith is a skilful engineer, and the English Joe Root is a highly esteemed professor at a famous B-School, AB de Villiers is the Steve Jobs of cricket who is the ultimate innovator with the  bat. Like Jobs, he believes as well as practises those eternal words, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." Like the iconic founder of Apple Inc., AB delves deep into a game  and always looks for the forensic details. Here is a champion player whose mind is like a tranquil or serene river in the tempestuous nature of world cricket. His 360-degree, well-rounded personality has been supplemented very well because he is also a composed golfer, rugby player and tennis player. As he has decided to hang up his boots, there will be a monstrous void not only in the South African cricket but also in the world cricket.

So AB, the grand piano has left the building. Already a few competent South African cricketers deserted their national team and settled in the County cricket in England in search of a stable financial climate. Yes, the financial crisis has  hit hard the cricket in the land of Mandela. And there is a distinct possibility that this beautiful rainbow nation is hurtling towards destruction. Cricket is virtually finished in Zimbabwe. Who could deny that Zimbabwe produced some world-beaters... Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak left indelible marks in the game. Once the ruler of the game, now West Indies are fading fast into oblivion because of the endless chaos between the cricketers and the administration. Pakistan,with all its magnificent reposte, is suffering from the financial ailments as the international cricket has received a painful dent  due to the endless terrorism in the enigmatic land of Imran Khan. Even the mighty Australia, now without their inspirational Steve Smith and David Warner, are in a delicate health . As one of the greatest statesmen  of the game, Martin Crowe said a few years back, "There will be a situation in future where India will play against India!" Martin Crowe with his inimitable penetrating vision looked into the deepest soul of the game. We  are aware of  the financial clout of the BCCI as well as the Team India which has been built on the immense monetary hubris. We, the proud Indians, should feel awkward if we find the Team India too strong and the rest of the cricketing world are starved of money as well as the requisite system. An egalitarian cricketing universe is the need of the hour.

As of now, it's a time for profound mourning as one of the greatest entertainers of cricket, the Steve Jobs of this beautiful game has said good bye to the international cricket far too early.