Proteas record-breaker Dewald Brevis says self-belief was never an issue, even after a difficult start to his international career.
The 22-year-old announced himself on the global stage in spectacular fashion in Darwin on Tuesday, smashing an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls – South Africa’s second-fastest T20I hundred – to set up victory over Australia in the second T20I.
It was also the highest T20I score by a South African, surpassing Faf du Plessis’ 119.
“That’s just my natural way of hitting,” Brevis told the media afterwards. “I’ve hit thousands of balls and I just want to go out there, enjoy it, have fun, watch it and then if it’s there, it happens. I don’t try to do it – I’m just trying to be myself and have fun.
“I believe God blessed me with a talent to play like that, to play aggressively. Last year, on 28 December, I made that commitment. I got a few people, they know who they are, who I trust and the main thing was just to be the original Dewald and to be on that side of it and every ball, wherever it is, to watch it and to hit it,” added Brevis, who was nicknamed “Baby AB” after drawing comparisons to the great AB de Villiers.
“I’ve always believed this is where I need to be and where I will be, so I never had any doubt. It’s a rollercoaster – you have your ups and downs – but I’ve never doubted myself.”
WATCH: Brevis smashes 41-ball T20I century
After scoring just five runs in his first two T20I appearances for the Proteas, against Australia in 2023, Brevis was sent back to the domestic circuit, which proved a turning point.
“I would have loved to be here earlier but that’s all a part of your journey and that’s what makes you stronger. That’s why I’m here now,” he said. “It’s a reason for how I’m playing now.
“I had to make all those mistakes that all of the senior players actually warned me I would make. They told me to watch out for this, do this, do that and then I basically did exactly the opposite, so it’s important to go through that and to be able to be here now.”
Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
