On the day that AB de Villiers was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year, he celebrated by top-scoring in the first ODI against Australia in Perth.

The former Affies pupil walked in arguably a few positions too low in the batting order, at No 5, with the side in trouble. He looked assured and once again seemed to be playing on a different surface to everybody else.

De Villiers forgot about receiving the award, and possibly the disappointment of missing out on being named the ICC Player of the Year, and just got on with the job at hand. He struck up a 126-run partnership David Miller, who needed a good innings to secure his spot in the ODI XI.

The two not only played with freedom, but also dealt with the pressure of knowing that the side was light of a specialist batsman. This was shown when Miller was dismissed and the bowling all-rounders fell in quick succession.

De Villiers, however, never looked like getting out. He was eventually run out by a great piece of fielding from substitute Steve Smith, but definitely won his personal battle with the Australian attack. His 76-ball 80 was the top score of the match from either side and underlined why he has been recognised by the ICC and the best ODI batsman on the planet.

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