Aussies in awe of 'Baby AB' as focus turns to ODIs

Yahoo

2 days ago

Glenn Maxwell knows a thing or two about the burden of nicknames, and even he's been blown away by the South African rising star dubbed 'Baby AB'.
Maxwell was the hero on Saturday night in Cairns, blasting an unbeaten 62 off 36 balls to lead Australia to a thrilling two-wicket T20 victory over South Africa with just one ball to spare.
GLENN MAXWELL WINS IT ON THE SECOND LAST BALL!#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/gvrzvyHnGc
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 16, 2025
The win secured Australia a 2-1 series victory, and they will be aiming to back it up in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting in Cairns on Tuesday.
Although Australia managed to edge South Africa in the T20s, one of the biggest talking points to come out of the series was the hot form of rising Proteas star Dewald Brevis.
The 22-year-old smacked an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls to guide South Africa to victory in game two.
And he was at it again on Saturday night, blasting 53 off 26 balls before a brilliant diving catch from Maxwell in the deep ended his innings.
At one point, Brevis smacked allrounder Aaron Hardie for four consecutive sixes, including one huge hit that bounced on top of the roof and out of the stadium.
THREE NO-LOOK SIXES IN A ROW FROM DEWALD BREVIS!@BKTtires | #PlayoftheDay | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/2w1BpmQR8T
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 16, 2025
Brevis was dubbed 'Baby AB', in reference to former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers, after taking the Under 19 Cricket World Cup by storm in 2022.
Maxwell, who has reluctantly carried the nickname 'The Big Show' throughout his career, was full of praise for Brevis.
"He's got a lot of talent," Maxwell said.
"It was hard not to see some of the highlights from when he played in the South Africa Under 19s, and all the 'Baby AB' stuff.
"It's a pretty heavy burden he had to have early in his career.
"He probably got fast tracked a little bit into the South African side. he's had to go away and work on his game and come back and he's played beautifully this series.
"His bat swing is really pure. He's hard to stop when he gets going."
Maxwell won't be there for the ODI series after announcing his retirement in that format earlier this year, but Brevis is in South Africa's squad.
Brevis has already played two Tests and 10 T20s for his country, and it will be hard to see the South African selectors not picking him in the XI for the ODI series given his blistering hot form.