WINDIES CAPTAIN BELIEVES BABY AB WILL COME GOOD AT T20 WORLD CUP

IS DEWALD “Baby AB” Brevis ready to live up to the expectations weighing on his shoulders? 

Following his century in the SA20 final – albeit on the losing side – for Pretoria Capitals against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, West Indies captain Shai Hope seems to think so.

The 22-year-old Brevis has long been touted as the next big star on the international stage and after watching him klap the Sunrisers to all parts of Newlands for his 101 off 56 balls, Hope, who faced Brevis and the Proteas in the first T20 in Paarl on Tuesday, said: “He oozes confidence. He’s one of those characters who feels he can get the job done in any situation at any time.

“It’s going to be a bit challenging playing against him now, but, yeah, it’s nice to share the dressing-room with him, see what he thinks, see what he does, how he prepares, very professional, and he’s certainly a proper cricketer. One of the best I’ve seen in a long time. He’s got natural talent and ability.”

South Africa will face the Windies in two more matches this week, with their first game at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka being against Canada on 9 February.

Brevis’ national teammate Keshav Maharaj is also full of hope and wysed: “I think, if we’re honest, maybe we [at the Capitals] held him back a little bit at the start of the comp, and maybe that’s why it was a bit erratic in the way it came across.

“But I think with responsibility batting at No.4, he showed what he is capable of for the last three games.

“I think he has got two 50s and a hundred in a row. So, I’m pretty sure he’ll carry that momentum into the South African team in this West Indies series and the World Cup, and just going forward in general. I think the maturity shown in these last couple of games, no one would have expected Brevis to do that.”