Dewald Brevis embraces ‘Baby AB' nickname with pride ahead of Aussie series
Image: BackpagePix
As South Africa prepare to take on hosts Australia in their limited overs series beginning on Sunday, Dewald Brevis is ready to prove himself on the biggest stage as he continues to be compared with the legendary AB de Villiers.
South Africa take on Australia in the first of three T20Is in Darwin this weekend, before the ODI series begins on August 19 in Cairns.
The ODI series also features three matches.
The 22-year-old has been included in both squads, with seven T20Is to his name. Though he has also played two Tests, Brevis has yet to make his ODI bow.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Brevis Embraces Comparisons to De Villiers: 'A Big Privilege to Be Called Baby AB'
Ahead of the series, a clearly excited Brevis was raring to go.
"It's incredible. The Proteas are very close to my heart, and I will never take it for granted playing for them because, as I said, it's an environment you never want to get out of,' Brevis told Sportsboom.co.za.
'And a big part of when I was growing up was watching some famous games against Australia.'
As for the persistent comparisons with De Villiers due to the similarity in batting styles, Brevis did not mind at all.
"AB is my role model and he is one of the people I fully trust. I spend a lot of time with him and being compared to him has never been a burden or brought any extra pressure. Never in my life have I felt that it has always been a big privilege to be called: Baby AB."
"He is still my hero and to have him help me is a big honour. But I still have my own identity, and I know that will work out too. But there has never been any pressure being compared to AB.'
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Maverick
6 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Dewald Brevis sets SA record, lights up Darwin with maiden T20I century
South Africa 218 for 7 (Dewald Brevis 125*) beat Australia 165 (Tim David 50, Corbin Bosch 3-20, Kwena Maphaka 3-57) by 53 runs Dewald Brevis struck a sublime century to guide South Africa to 218 for seven and an eventual 53-run win over Australia in Darwin to tie the series 1-1, headed into the final match on Saturday. It was an exhibition of clean hitting by the 22-year-old who now has the record for the highest T20I score for South Africa. He bludgeoned an undefeated 125 off 56 deliveries, surpassing the 119 off 56 balls former captain Faf du Plessis struck against West Indies in 2015. Brevis aimed straight and he aimed long as he smacked most of his boundaries back over the bowlers' heads, showing some finesse when doing so by holding his head down until after the point of contact, lifting it only once the ball had sailed over the ropes in what has become his trademark style. The stylish batter clubbed eight massive sixes and 12 fours in his record-breaking knock, with six of those maximums coming off the spin of either Glenn Maxwell or Adam Zampa, who he took a particular liking to. 'I always knew [that] I would be happy if spin arrived,' Brevis said. 'I just watched it and tried to maximise every single ball, but in a way, I felt like I'm happy [to face] the seam because the wicket was nice, I enjoyed it. 'I was just in the moment to be honest, I was happy with whatever bowler it was, if it was pace on, seam on, spin or anything.' Rebuilding Brevis walked in at number four with South Africa in a bit of a precarious position on 44 for two in the fifth over. He took his time to get himself going, scoring only 14 runs off his first 12 deliveries, before digging into the Australian bowlers. Off the next 41 deliveries he faced, he scored 102 runs, which included clubbing Maxwell for three sixes and a four in the space of four deliveries in the 12th over. It was carnage from the youngster who, once he started hitting it out of the park, didn't stop trying. Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22), who can be equally destructive, joined Brevis at the crease in the seventh over with the team on 57 for three. When the pair reached their 100-run partnership in the 15th over, he had only a run-a-ball 16 to his name as he shepherded the strike to Brevis. It's the first time Brevis has passed 50 for South Africa in limited-overs cricket, having scored 51 on Test debut against Zimbabwe last month, and he made it count. After 11 innings in the green and gold for South Africa, is this the moment he finally feels like he belongs at this level? 'I've always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be,' Brevis said after the match. 'I never had any doubt or anything. It's all about cricket and how things work out. 'It is a roller coaster, you have your ups, you have your downs, but I never, ever doubted myself. 'This is just, for me, the start. It's not that this happened now, and now I'm happy or anything. 'I just want to keep working hard, do the same things, and the next match is the next match. I can enjoy it now, think a bit about it, watch it maybe, but then when the next match comes, it's completely new and anything can happen, so you have to be in the moment.' Finishing the task For Australia, only the ferocious striker Tim David, who beats the ball more than just hitting it, made any score of significance after scoring 50 off 24 deliveries, his second consecutive half-century against the Proteas. The wickets were shared between the bowlers, with everyone picking up a scalp. Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch were the standouts with three wickets apiece as South Africa bowled Australia out for 165 in the 18th over. The third and final T20I takes place on Saturday, 16 August. DM

IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Madonna urges Pope to visit Gaza and bring hope to its suffering children
Madonna. Picture: INSTAGRAM Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the new Pope, replacing Pope Francis. Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV. In a heartfelt plea reflecting both her concern as a mother and a public figure, iconic pop star Madonna has called on Pope Leo to travel to Gaza, where a dire humanitarian crisis continues to unfurl. In an Instagram post shared on Monday, she appealed to the pontiff, urging him to "bring your light to the children before it's too late." Madonna expressed her inability to watch the suffering of children as the conflict rages on. "As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone," she wrote, emphasising the universal nature of empathy towards innocent victims caught in the crossfire. Using her platform to advocate for humanitarian aid, Madonna highlighted the urgent need for change, stating, "Politics cannot affect (sic) change. Only consciousness can. Therefore, I am reaching out to a Man of God." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In a poignant twist, she revealed that her request coincides with her son Rocco's birthday, framing it as a personal gesture of love. "I feel the best gift I can give to him as a mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza," she shared. In addition to the plight of Palestinian children, Madonna's message included a call for compassion across the conflict. She specifically mentioned the hostages held by Hamas since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, affirming her belief that "everyone is suffering," including the mothers of those abducted. "I pray that they are released as well," she added, echoing a universal hope for peace and safety in a tumultuous region. She said that she is "not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides." As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, her call to action challenges world leaders and influencers to step beyond borders and ideologies. With urgency in her voice, she invites others to join her in advocating for the voiceless: the innocent children affected by war. As of 30 July 2025, over 63,000 people (61,805 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis have been reported killed in the Gaza war according to the Gaza Health Ministry and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Dewald Brevis ready to ride the Proteas rollercoaster after record-breaking T20I ton
Dewald Brevis raises his bat to the heavens after reaching his maiden T20I century against Australia in Darwin on Tuesday. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix EVER since Dewald Brevis first stole the spotlight when he topped the run-scorers charts at the ICC Under-19 World Cup he's had to live with the moniker 'Baby AB' in reference to Proteas legend and his childhood hero AB de Villiers. But three years later on a balmy night in Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, Brevis lifted the immense weight of expectation off his shoulders to become his own man through an innings for the ages. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Brevis eclipsed everything De Villiers achieved in a Proteas T20I shirt – and in fact anyone that's ever worn it – by booming an undefeated 125 not out off 56 balls (12X4, 8X6) to power the Proteas to series-levelling 53-run victory over Australia. 'I've always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be,' he said. 'So, I never had any doubt. It's all about cricket, how things work out. It is a roller coaster, you have your ups, you have your downs, and yeah, I've never ever doubted myself. This is just for me the start.' The second-quickest T20I hundred from a South African player! Dewald Brevis, take a bow 👏#AUSvSA — (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025 Records aplenty were left in the dust at the Marrara Stadium. Brevis is now the holder of South Africa's highest individual T20I score, having surpassed Faf du Plessis' 119 not out against the West Indies a decade ago, the second-fastest T20I hundred off 41 balls and the youngest South African to hit a century in the shortest format. The beauty lies in the simplicity of Brevis' batting. He hits the ball long and hard, has quick feet, quicker hands and an uncomplicated method which comprises largely drives and pulls of equal ferocity. Ironically, the first time he attempted anything out of De Villiers' 360° manual off the first ball after he reached three-figures, he promptly fell over in a mess attempting a ramp shot. Sixty-six runs were struck straight down the ground – with a half dozen sixes blasted in the 'V' – and when the Australian seamers tried to go short, he had enough good fortune on the night to top-edge a few more boundaries over the wicket-keeper's head. 'To be honest, I think that's just my natural way of hitting,' Brevis said, about his trademark head down pose after striking the ball. 'I've hit thousands of balls and I just want to go out there, enjoy it and have fun and just watch it and then if it's there, it happens. So, I don't try to do it, I'm just trying to be myself and have fun. Dewald Brevis 125(56)* vs Australia | 2nd T20I, 2025 - Darwin | Ball By Ball Highlights + Post Innings Interview — PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) August 12, 2025 'I always knew I was happy if spin arrived, so I would have just watched it and maximise every single ball, but in a way I felt like I'm happy with the seam because the wicket was nice. 'I enjoyed it. I was just in the moment to be honest. I was happy with whatever bowler it was. If it was pace on seam or spin or anything.' Brevis formed a 126-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22 balls) that set up the Proteas' highest-ever T20I score against Australia, and was grateful to have his more experienced partner feed him the strike to maintain the momentum through his innings. 'Stubbo played very well, he's a boundary hitter as well. He could have easily have just striked as well, but he's been on this level quite longer and he's got experience, so I think he really identified that moment,' Brevis said. The Proteas' bowlers backed up Brevis' pyrotechnics show with another promising Proteas young talent Kwena Maphaka claiming 3/57 to follow up his 4/20 from the previous game, while Corbin Bosch bounced back with a career-best 3/20 to bowl out Australia for 165. The series decider will be in Cairns on Saturday.