Biography

EARLY LIFE

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers (more commonly

known by his initials, AB) was born on February 17, 1984 in Pretoria, Transvaal Province,
South Africa. He is the youngest of three sons born to parents Millie and Abraham Benjamin
(who AB is named after) his older siblings being Jan (9 years older) and Wessels (6 years
older). His mother works in property, while his father is a doctor with a general practice. AB
was raised in the small town of Warmbad, in the north of the country, where he attended
primary school. It was here that AB learned to play cricket in the backyard with his
brothers.
When I was very young, I started playing cricket in the garden against my older brothers,
Jan and Wessels, and Martin van Jaarsveld [who later played for the Titans and South
Africa], AB remembers. I had to carry the water and, after a long day, they would finally
give me my chance. I was a little ou and they were all in matric. They would try to
intimidate me. The bat was actually too heavy for me, and I would rest it on the dustbin
while they were walking back to their mark, he says. They battled to get me out and they
would get so frustrated that theyd bowl a couple of beamers at me to see what I would do.
Saturday games at our house in Bela Bela were very competitive. My brothers were
merciless. They were monsters. There were always a lot of tearsusually mine, he laughs.

I decided when I was 10 that I was going to do

something in sport one day, he said. I realised then that that was my way to go. My mum
and dad are good at sports and Ive got two older brothers who drilled into me how to play.
Im six years younger they made it clear that if I wanted to be involved I was going to get
it, so every single game was unbelievably competitive. Were very competitive, my mum
most of all, and when we get on to a tennis court or golf course the family stops. Thats how
I grew up, every single day of my life I was playing something, and from about 16 it was
cricket. Its part of the Afrikaans culture, playing it hard and doing your best. But its very
important to stay humble, that was a very big part of my growing up, not getting bigheaded.
AB went to Afrikaans Hor Seunsskool in Pretoria, across the road from Loftus Versfeld,
where Jacques Rudolph was also a student.
AB is one of those boys who most of us knew at school and both resented and wanted to be.
He plays golf off a handicap of two, not having had time to maintain his scratch rating, gave
up tennis at the age of 13 when he was in the national squad and did not want to leave
home to attend the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida, and had an offer to play at fly-half
for the Blue Bulls (provincial rugby team). Actually, maybe he was better than the average
bloke you knew at school.
If things have come easy to AB, he has inherited his cultures work ethic. Church and sport
are twin religions. Sundays in church, and whenever Ive got time off church, cricket and
golf.
MAKING HIS DREAMS COME TRUE
I was eight years old when I saw Jontys world famous run out against Australia in the
1992 World Cup. It really made an impression on me. I remember thinking: this is a cool
game! I started dreaming of following in Jontys footsteps, he says. Recognising their sons
cricketing aptitude, ABs parents decided to send their talented son to Affies. At that stage I
participated in various sports and wasnt sure what I wanted to focus on. However, when I
made the South African Colt team at 16, I realised cricket was something I could pursue
professionally. I started working harder. I wanted to be the best in my age group.
While playing for the South African Schools Eleven, he was spotted by the Titans coach
Dave Nosworthy. Dave gave him a chance to play for this team against Canada in a 2003
World Cup warm-up game. It was the first time that I played a televised game. I was very

nervous, but I thrive under pressure, especially if people are watching. Life is all about
grabbing opportunities. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands, he says.
He was a star of the South African Under-19 team in England in 2003, and then played for
the Carrickfergus Cricket Club in Northern Ireland in 2004. AB says this was a big step in his
life as it was the first time he lived away from home. He had to learn to become
independent and self-sufficient.

Soon after, AB played for the Northern Titans

before being selected to play Test cricket at the tender age of 20 years old. I love Test
cricket, AB said. I love the intensity and the pressure, and when I was batting at Durban I
couldnt hear the crowd. When you move from the provincial side into the national side
youve got doubts, but if the doubts get to you youll struggle.
Making cricket my career and playing for the national squad are dreams come true. We
have been in a learning phase for the past few yearsand it has paid off. Its all about
consistency. In the past we may have been guilty of not playing a consistent game. But we
have returned to the basics, we know and understand each other and we have worked
consistently towards the same goals. We have also stuck to the same brave brand of
cricket.
[Read more about ABs cricket career here.]
THE FUTURE
Personally, I have grown as a player in the past two years. I have found my feet on the
field. Performing consistently has also been a personal highlight for me and it remains my
number one goal, says AB. However, he emphasises that his life isnt just focused on
cricket. Off the field, AB loves spending time with his family and friends. He also plays golf
(off a five handicap), tennis and the guitar.

AB and a friend, Ampie du Preez released the

motivational song Show Them Who You Are at the end of last year. This song became the
anthem of the Proteas rise to victory against Australia. By early 2010, AB and Ampie are
hoping to release their first CD. It has always been my dream to make and record music.
And were not merely dabbling in itweve decided that our CD cant be anything but great,
says AB who also took piano lessons and sang in the school choir in primary school.
[Read more about ABs music here.]
In addition, he is a partner in his brothers fast food businesses. They will soon start a
catering business together. This move is part of his long-term after-cricket strategy. When
asked in an interview with SA SportsIllustrated in mid-2009, whether he could see himself
playing until he was 40, AB replied, No. Not to 40. There is no chance. I think there is more
to life than just playing cricket for 25 years. I will definitely find the right time to retire.
When I start my family I am definitely going to retire. I am not going to wait till I am 40.
AB is also passionate about his involvement in Francois Pienaars Make a Difference
Foundation. This organization gives underprivileged children the opportunity to attend the
countrys best schools, so he mentors one particular youngster at school in Johannesburg
and he donates 100% of his fee for giving weekly radio interviews to M.A.D. He has even
arranged to print, at his own cost, postcards with a photograph and space for him to sign,
that he can carry in his cricket bag and hand out to the youngsters who stand and wait,
craving his autograph. I am a devout Christian and would like to pursue a goal in this
regard one day. Id like start an initiative through which I can touch peoples lives and make
the world a better place in whatever way I can.
At this stage, it is still just a dream, but I see it as the measure of true success. I cant just
live for myself. When talking to AB you get the feeling that it is only a matter of time before
this dream also becomes a reality. Realising goals is all about self belief and hard work, he
says. Success is 99% self belief. You have to be confident in your abilities. And hard work
comes naturally if you have a passion for something.
Information compiled from various sources including ABs Official Site,Keo.co.za, The
Independent & MotorPics.