Latest news with #DeVilliers
TimesLIVE
14 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Boks must fix sloppy breakdown play, says de Jean de Villiers
Fixing sloppy play at the breakdowns is an aspect of their game the Springboks must resolve if they want to make an impact in the Rugby Championship, former Bok star Jean de Villiers says. Though the Boks breezed past the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia, De Villiers said hard work is needed in training ahead of a showdown against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on August 16. 'If you look at the past three Test matches, there are elements of their game that the Boks need to work on,' he said. 'There were things they tried out to see if they could evolve their game even more. 'I think the one element that will concern them a little bit is the breakdown because it was sloppy at times. But that comes with the fact that they were trying to play a more expansive game and you don't have as many numbers playing to the ball. Five tries in three starts 🇿🇦🔥 Has Edwill van der Merwe locked in his spot in The Rugby Championship squad? 🤔💭 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 22, 2025 'There were also handling errors in the Test against Georgia. I think that it is a combination of the atmosphere, the opposition and the pressure you are being put under and also the way you want to play. 'At the end of the day, if each guy in the team makes one silly error, then suddenly that is 23 errors in the game. It is also 23 times that you give the ball away to the opposition. 'But if you win the game by 45 points and you still have those errors, then it is not a bad performance. 'We know the quality of this team and the high standards they have, and that won't be good enough for them.' De Villiers said competition for places in the starting line-up was driving the Boks forward in their efforts to become an even better team. Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché receive their Springbok blazers and caps after making their official debuts against Georgia this weekend 🇿🇦👏 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 21, 2025 'You want healthy competition within your squad and we certainly have that when it comes to the wing position. We have several world-class wings and probably a couple more who are also knocking on the door as well. It is a fortunate position for South Africa to be in. 'For someone like Edwill van der Merwe, however, it is an unfortunate position to be in. Probably, if we select our best team tomorrow, he does not make the starting 15. But you must keep on pushing and every time you get that opportunity, you must perform and do that week in and week out. 'It is lovely to see how he is putting in the effort and work rate, and hoping for the best. I enjoy players like that and it is an example for youngsters on how they should go about approaching a challenge. 'If you are not getting selected, you work hard and make sure you use any opportunity you get.' Coach Rassie Erasmus said he was satisfied with how the Boks had fared in their opening four matches. 'Overall, to play a team like Georgia that's very physical and disruptive is difficult,' he said. 'But that's not an excuse for us to make so many errors. 'We also have to understand that if we chop and change teams like that, we'll be building squad depth, but we'll be losing rhythm. I'm glad the guys over the last 25 minutes could get some rhythm into the game. We're fairly happy. 'We could always do better, but it was definitely a team that came out to disrupt the flow of the game.' The Herald
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
WATCH: AB de Villiers turns back the clock with 360-degree batting and amazing fielding
Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers showed that he has lost none of his X-factor skills. Picture: AFP Image: AFP In a spectacular display of skill, former Proteas star AB de Villiers showcased his timeless talent, leading the South Africa Champions to an emphatic 88-run victory over the India Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at The County Ground in Northampton on Tuesday. The 41-year-old invoked memories of his cricketing heyday, delivering a performance that left fans buzzing. Walking onto the pitch, De Villiers was an instant crowd favourite, and he certainly did not disappoint. He aggressively launched into the Indian bowlers, accumulating an impressive 63 not out off just 30 balls at a blistering strike rate of 210. His innings included three fours and a staggering four sixes, each shot echoing the flair and finesse that has been synonymous with his career. Revelling in his return to the crease, De Villiers employed his signature 360-degree sweep shots, combined with classy cover drives and powerful pull shots. His ability to control the game and manipulate the field underscored why he is revered as one of cricket's most explosive batsmen. The crowd couldn't help but reminisce about the days when he consistently dazzled on international stages, proving that age is merely a number in the world of cricket. With De Villiers anchoring the innings, South Africa set a formidable target of 209 runs, which proved to be more than enough to challenge their Indian counterparts. Under the DLS method, the South Africa Champions clinched an outright win. De Villiers also proved that he has lost none of the athleticism that made him one of the world's most outstanding fielders. The 41-yea-old displayed his dazzling fielding skills when he swiftly sprinted towards the ball, before executing a perfectly timed slide whilst taking a one-handed grab. In an instant, he deftly tossed the ball back to his teammate, Sarel Erwee, before his body could breach the boundary line which sent Yusuf Pathan on his way.
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First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Fiery fifty and brilliant fielding: AB de Villiers turns back the clock as South Africa beat India in WCL; watch videos
It was vintage AB de Villiers as he scored a fiery fifty against India Champions in a World Championship of Legends (WCL) match and later put in a brilliant fielding effort to get Yusuf Pathan out. Check all the highlights here. read more The now-retired AB de Villiers was in inspired form as he led the South Africa Champions to a massive 88-run (DLS) win over the India Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at Northampton on Tuesday. The 41-year-old cricketing legend turned back the clock at The County Ground with exactly the type of innings the Indian fans wanted to see from one of their favourite overseas stars. De Villiers smashed three fours and four sixes as he scored 63 off just 30 balls at a strike rate of 210 to help South Africa post a daunting target of 209. De Villiers's glittering knock was marked by sublime sweep shots, classy cover drives, and power pull shots, as fans relived memories of his prime. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The video of ABD's knock, which was posted by FanCode on X is going viral. 'Stop the scroll, AB de Villiers just turned back time. The 🐐 just showed that he's still got it, smacking 63* off just 30 balls,' the caption of the video read. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹, 𝗔𝗕 𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 🤯 The 🐐 just showed that he's still got it, smacking 63* off just 30 balls 🙌#WCL2025 #ABDevilliers — FanCode (@FanCode) July 22, 2025 De Villiers' brilliance wasn't just limited to the batting. Always a gun fielder during his playing career, the South African helped his team also pull off a stunning catch of Yusuf Pathan to break India's back. With the team reeling on 44/4, India needed Yusuf Pathan to stitch a solid partnership with Stuart Binny, who scored 37 not out off 39. And it could have been possible if not for a brilliant fielding effort from De Villiers. In the eighth over, Pathan smashed an Imran Tahir delivery to the wide of long-off, hoping for a boundary, but De Villiers was quick to reach the ball as he put in a slide, grabbed it and tossed it back to teammate Sarel Erwee before making contact with the boundary ropes. Erwee completed the catch and Pathan was given his marching orders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mr 360 back in action! AB de Villiers catch of Yusuf Pathan on the boundary ropes in WCL 2025 could be the catch of the year. — Simple Funda (@Kirkit_Funda) July 23, 2025 It's no surprise that De Villiers was named the Player of the match as India were restricted to 111/9 in 18.2 overs after captain Yuvraj Singh decided against batting due to a niggle.
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Watch: AB De Villiers Stuns Yusuf Pathan And Indian Fans With Insane Relay Catch During WCL
Last Updated: AB de Villiers turned back the clock with a stunning fielding effort to get rid of Yusuf Pathan during a veterans' T20 tournament. He may have retired from competitive cricket for four years now but AB de Villiers hasn't forgotten how to bat or to field. Then 41-year-old was in the thick of action during a veterans' T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Northampton as his stunning performance propelled his team to a big win. De Villiers won player-of-the-match award as South Africa Champions swept aside India Champions by 88 runs at the County Ground on Tuesday. Chasing 209, India managed 111/9. The highlight of the contest was De Villiers' stunning effort in the deep after Indian batter Yusuf Pathan launched a delivery from Imran Tahir towards wide long-off. The ball was seemingly headed for a boundary before being intercepted by an athletic De Villiers who ran across and grabbed the ball while sliding and relayed the ball towards his teammate Sarel Erwee before making contact with the boundary cushions. Erwee then dived and caught the ball completing a brilliant relay catch. The third umpire was summoned to check if De Villiers had touched the cushions with the ball in his hands. However, he had managed to lob the ball towards his teammate in time and Pathan was adjudged out for run-a-ball 5. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 08:18 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
AB de Villiers set to return to cricket field with Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, he will play for…, tournament is…
AB de Villiers will return to cricket field after 4 years. (Photo: ANI) South Africa's legendary batter AB de Villiers is set to return to the cricket field after a gap of 4 years. The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter announced his retirement from international cricket and IPL in 2021. Since then De Villiers has chosen to stay away from the cricket turf. Now the RCB and SA superstar will be back in cricketing action alongside former India legends Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 season. Apart from these stars, the tournament will also witness global icons like Brett Lee, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Eoin Morgan. Scheduled from July 18 to August 2 across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester and Leeds, the WCL 2025 brings together the heroes of yesteryears in a grand summer spectacle sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). AB de Villiers will be part of South Africa Legends side Joining De Villiers in the South African legends side are dynamic names like Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Hardus Viljoen, and Aaron Phangiso, promising a thrilling mix of experience, power, and precision that South African cricket is known for. 'There's nothing like playing for South Africa. Being back with this group of legends, in front of fans who've always supported us, is truly special. WCL is a celebration of cricket's spirit–and we're here not just to participate, but to compete and ultimately to win,' De Villiers said. De Villiers scored over 18000 runs in international cricket. He scored 8765 runs in 114 Tests, 9577 runs in 228 ODIs and 1672 runs in 78 T20I matches. Bollywood star Ajay Devgn is co-owner of WCL The WCL league is co-owned by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn. 'Having EaseMyTrip on board as Presenting Partner is a huge win for WCL. Their strong consumer connect, digital reach, and unwavering support for Indian sports make them the ideal partner for a league that celebrates cricketing legacy. We're excited to create many unforgettable moments together,' Ajay Devgn said. Harshit Tomar, Founder and CEO, World Championship of Legends, said, 'EaseMyTrip has been at the forefront of India's travel revolution and has consistently backed marquee sporting properties. Their continued support strengthens the foundation of WCL and helps us scale the league globally, both in visibility and experience. With the ECB's sanction and the support of brands like EMT, WCL 2025 is set to break new records.' Along with AB de Villiers this season features an all-star line-up including Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Brett Lee, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Sir Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and more.
