AB de Villiers made his BBL debut, on Tuesday (January 14), against the Adelaide Strikers. The South African superstar received his Brisbane Heat cap from Australian veteran Andrew Symonds.
De Villiers reached Brisbane on Sunday night after a 17-hour journey from South Africa and met his Heat teammates at the training-session on Monday afternoon.
The 35-year-old Protea hit 325 runs at a strike rate of 152.58 for the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League (MSL) 2019.
“I know what’s required of me to make a play for the team. There’s been some standout performances from the Heat this season and I think the team is in a really good place,” AB was quoted as saying cricket.com.au.
De Villiers was lured to Brisbane by Chris Lynn after they bonded at the IPL while playing for opposite teams, and the South African is excited to bat with the six-hitting Aussie sensation for the first time.
“It could be interesting, I don’t know what to expect,” de Villiers said of batting with the Heat skipper.
“We know each other from chatting at IPL but it’s an interesting dynamic with two players at the crease, it either works or it doesn’t.
“I’ve got a feeling it’s going to work and be very nice to watch. Hopefully, I’ll do most of the watching at the non-striker’s end.”
Welcome to the Heat Family @ABdeVilliers17 🤗
Cap presented by @RoySymonds63.#WelcomeABD #BringTheHeat #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/g1H6Rky3H2
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) January 14, 2020
Meanwhile, Adelaide Strikers skipper Travis Head won the bat flip and the opted to bat first at a muggy Gabba. Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman also made his BBL|09 debut by replacing countryman Zahir Khan.
Brisbane Heat XI: Max Bryant, Ben Cutting, Chris Lynn (c), AB de Villiers, Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, James Peirson (wk), James Pattinson, Josh Lalor, Mitch Swepson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Adelaide Strikers XI: Jake Weatherald, Phil Salt, Travis Head (c), Jon Wells, Harry Nielsen (wk), Matt Short, Michael Neser, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle, Harry Conway, Liam O’Connor.
Look at that @HeatBBL floppy cap on @lynny50!
It may not return though, the @StrikersBBL have won the flip and will BAT first #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/SEn176xHwo
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 14, 2020
