This is after the Proteas’ one-day captain, de Villiers battered the fastest ever ODI century against the West Indies at the Wanderers on Sunday, January 18.
De Villiers achieved the milestone in 31 balls before being dismissed at 149, 13 balls later.
The Proteas skipper scored his 50 off 16 balls, also an ODI world record, in a ruthless batting display.
His 149 featured nine fours and 16 sixes, matching the world record for most sixes in an ODI innings.
“AB de Villiers is obviously an amazing cricketer; he is at the top of his game at the moment and the team environment is such that these kind of players can play as freely as they can. It was one of those days where everything he tried came off,” said Bernhardt.
Meyer added: “Freak of nature! Maybe Jacques Kallis is a better cricketer (in Proteas history), but AB is currently head and shoulders above every batsman in the world.
“He is simply not human, he makes everybody think the game is easy the way he bats.
”I read a tweet that said: ‘AB must go for a DNA test, because cricket is for humans only, not freaks’.”
South Africa posted 439-2, their highest score in ODIs, to clinch a thumping 148-run victory.
The 247-run opening stand between Amla and Rossouw was the best first-wicket partnership for SA, while the three centuries in the innings was also the first time that had been achieved in ODI cricket.
De Villiers replaces New Zealand’s Corey Anderson, who held the previous record of reaching a century from 36 balls.
Fastest ODI centuries:
AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 100 off 31 balls
Corey Anderson (New Zealand) – 100 off 36 balls
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 100 off 37 balls – @SabeloBoksburg
