Dewald Brevis heads to Australia with a clearer mind, a confident smile, and a nickname he now wears with pride. The young South African batter says embracing “Baby AB” has brought freedom rather than pressure, and a renewed focus on his own identity as he prepares for a demanding tour.
Pride without imitation
Brevis describes the link to AB de Villiers as an honour, not a burden. He has learned from de Villiers over the years and values that guidance, yet he stresses he is building his own game within the Proteas setup.
The connection dates back to school days and vivid memories of de Villiers dominating Australia, moments that helped shape how he thinks about batting and competition.
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Finding calm and form
After a stop-start start to international cricket, Brevis simplified his approach and narrowed the voices around him. Cutting out the noise, he says, unlocked the confidence seen in recent outings. That shift follows an early rise that featured a standout 2022 U19 World Cup and a record-breaking T20 knock for the Titans, achievements that set high expectations early in his career.
Rejoining the national squad this winter felt emotional after time away, and he speaks of gratitude for playing again. A mid-season IPL call-up with Chennai Super Kings gave him a fresh platform as a replacement signing in a reshaped XI. He then showed flashes in franchise cricket, with bursts of power hitting that reminded observers of his ceiling.
The momentum carried into international cricket: a Test debut in Zimbabwe brought scores of 51, 3, and 30 plus a maiden wicket, and the T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand yielded 133 runs at a 187.32 strike rate.
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Eyes on Australia
Brevis has been named in South Africa’s T20I and ODI squads for the Australia tour, which opens with three T20Is in Darwin before a three-match ODI leg starting August 19 in Cairns. He calls the Proteas environment special and says playing Australia is a long-held dream, shaped by memories of fierce contests he watched growing up.
Now, the plan is straightforward: carry the refreshed mindset, enjoy the contest, and contribute across formats. As South Africa target results on a tough trip, Brevis aims to blend pride in the “Baby AB” tag with a firm grip on his own identity—playing with clarity, intent, and a smile.
