Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers has been inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame.
De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is from 2004 to 2018. He hit 47 centuries in international cricket.
“Making his international debut as an opening batter in a Test against England in 2004, de Villiers was arguably the first great three-format international batter, flourishing against both the red and white ball up and down the South African batter order where required,” read a statement from the ICC.
“With a rare ability to adapt to any match situation and renowned for manipulating opposition field settings with his range of shots, de Villiers at times was blistering, hitting the fastest-ever ODI century in just 31 balls in 2015. But he could also show immense grit and patience, in one instance making 174 (381) in a near-nine-hour stay at the crease in a Test victory over England at Headingley in 2008.
“Not only boasting Test and ODI batting averages over 50, and a T20I strike rate of over 135, de Villiers is also regarded as one of the game’s finest fielders, also excelling as a wicketkeeper. For South Africa, only Jacques Kallis boasts more international runs than de Villiers’ 20,014, and the right-hander also joins England’s Joe Root as the only players to have made a half-century in 12 consecutive Test matches.
“De Villiers claimed the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year award on three occasions (2010, 2014 and 2015) and was selected in both the ODI and T20I Team of the Decade from 2010 to 2020. He was also named in the ICC Test Team of the Year XI on four occasions.”
Former England captain Alastair Cook was also added to the ICC’s Hall of Fame this week.
Former Proteas cricketers Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Allan Donald were inducted into the ICC’s Hall of Fame in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
“Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game – and it’s true that, whether you are a batsman taking guard at the crease or a bowler pausing at the start of his run-up, you – and only you – are responsible for what happens,” said de Villiers.
“That said, everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game. And I know I would have achieved nothing without the help and support of so many team-mates, coaches and support staff from my early days at school in Pretoria, through so many memorable days at the Titans and with the South Africa team – and, indeed in franchise cricket – all around the world. To all of them, to the ICC, and supporters around the world, thank you.”