AB De Villiers

Gale out for 3. I predict a crumble pie!!

 Bluebok lets not be modest. AB is arguably the best one day batsman ever?
Hope WI crumble it will help our NRR.

Really a hopeless cause now for the Windies...theyr'e lost their only weapon to spearhead any chance... remote or virtually impossible...it will be boring from now on...don't enjoy whitewashes in any sport...I feel for the opposition...

It was probably game over, for the WI, when we hit 300. They have never managed to chase down a target of 300.

 Sensational innings from AB. SA back from the apparent "brink" to once again be in line to win the WC. You guys should have more faith!Off to Eden Park tomorrow, can't wait! Go the Black Caps!!!

 Fantastic knock indeed, but he has yet to do it when we are chasing big scores. He tends to succumb to score board preasure. Hope I'm wrong, but he lost his head in the India game and it has become the trend of late.

'Yet to do it when chasing a big score'NonsenseThink aus vs sa in zim at the end of last year  

 The problem here is that AB tries to score too fast when chasing a big total - like against India, because the openers either fail or score at a snails pace - meaning that by the time AB comes in the score to be chased is near to 8 rpo.   If AB cannot keep pace with that requirement he sometimes make silly mistakes.
I do not really blame De Kock - he tries desperately to keep pace with requirements and it is clear that he is not back to form after his injury.   Amla seems to be a problem.  This morning he scored his first run after 12 balls - just not good enough in ODI's.  In the longer run he did make enough runs - but at a rate below 4 runs per over.  
The player who initially overcame the rot this morning was Rillee Rossouw.   He got the rate of scoring to a reasonable level after Amla was below the rate and Faf basically on par at a reasonable rpo rate.   If Rossouw was not performing as he did - De Villiers would have been slowed down as he would have to be more careful.   Even though De Villiers praised Rossouw for his performance this morning - I do not think the general public give Rossouw enough credit for his performance.    Be it as it may - the Rossouw knock gave AB the freedom to play like he did.
During the WI innings the commentators already said that AB would be MOM and asked the public to send in a question which they would ask AB at the interview.One bright spark send in the following question:-
"AB - you are not human - what do you eat?"  
When asked that question he said his stomach was upset this morning and he had nothing to eat.  The medic gave him an injection and then he felt better.   He then went further and said he and his wife had a wonderful dinner with Morne Morkel and his wife - Morne is married to an Australian lady - the previous evening.   He likes seafood and pasta.           
           

Mike r u still on about your Amla nonsense?Mate he is the second best odi batsman in the world and his strike rate is about 88.He plays the perfect role at the top of the order in just about every game he plays.In Australia most teams are adopting the same tactics. Start with a good foundation and take off from about the 35th over if you have wickets in hand.
I think you are being hyper critical for no apparent reason.Would you rather have a team be 100/2 after 22 or 100/5 after 10?Every good team has a batsman around which the innings is built... And those who don't, wish they did.

 FYIGa.yle s strike rate in Odis is 84Amlas is 89Amla also averages 20 runs more per game
Do you need any more convincing?

Some of ABs hitting was phenomenal. The Pom  commentator said it was some of the greatest hitting in the history of cricket...he was right. We have had the Windies number, so I don't think this changes much, but it was a day to savour.

Agree on both parts Denny.
AB is already a living legend of the game.  

Sterner tests lie ahead for sure....not only for AB but for the whole Proteas team. Something about the Windies turns our guys into monsters!

Windies are like the Pakis, things get too grim & the towels come flying in .

The Windies took some sting out of their tail when they  left Pollard and Bravo off the squad besides the days of just hurling it down the track Aka Parnell is simply not cutting it any longer.

 Absolutely phenomenal player.  

 Denny and others
Please I know all about Amla's rating and strike rate in ODI's - but I also know that in WC ODI's Amla's average is 20 runs lower than it is on average in all ODI's.   What I mentioned is also that his runs per over was thus far in this WC was very slow compared top what his average is for all ODI's.   I am not on about Amla - just stating facts about  what happened in all three WC matches this year.   
Amla is thus far in this tournament not anywhere near what his average performance in ODI's is.   It is not criticism of Amla - it is merely stating facts.      

AB is possibly the best bat to have ever played the game.

 @mike
no mate, i dont get your argument.
Sure his stats are not as good as his normal stats are, but neither are Warners, Finch, de Kock, either of the Paki openers, Guptill etc etc etc...
But how can you judge him on his first 3 games alone (he scored 65 in his 3rd).

Who else has the calmness and presence at the crease to open for SA in this WC anyway?

Can I ask you this...
If de Villiers scores 50 runs off 70 balls in out next 3 games, should we also replace him in our middle order for our quarter finals?
I dont think so.