AB de Villiers included in ICC Hall of Fame along with Sir Alastair Cook and Neetu David in latest inductions.
AB de Villiers, Alastair Cook, and Neetu David are the newest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame.
David, a former left-arm spinner who participated in 97 ODIs and 10 Tests, is the second Indian woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, following Diana Edulji.
As the Indian women’s team’s head of selectors, David became the first female player to reach 100 wickets in one-day international cricket. At the 2005 ODI World Cup, she was the top bowler, taking 20 wickets as India finished second. She had the highest bowling average of any bowler to take 100 wickets, finishing at 16.34.
“It is truly an honour to be into the ICC Hall of Fame. It is something that I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who puts on their national team jersey,” David said in an ICC statement. “This comes after a lifetime of dedication to this great sport. It caps a very special journey for me to get to this point. I would like to thank the ICC for the recognition, as well as all the BCCI. My team-mates, coaches, family and friends that were a constant source of support throughout my career.”
Until recently, Cook, an ex-opener, was England’s top run scorer and century maker in Test cricket. In 2010–11, he led England to their first Ashes victory in 24 years with a total of 766 runs. 2013 and 2015, he captained England to two more Ashes victories at home. In 2012, he led England to their first Test series victory in India in 28 years.
“It is a huge honour to join some of the greatest players to have ever played the game,” Cook said. “I have always felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play for Essex and England. So to have this latest honour given to me just makes it all the more special.”
With his creative strokeplay, De Villiers lit up the cricket world and broke records for the quickest 50, 100, and 150 in ODIs. In international cricket, he amassed over 20,000 runs and helped South Africa reach the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in both 2007 and 2015. He scored 278 not out in a Test match against Pakistan in 2010. It was, for a little while, the highest individual score for South Africa. 2018 saw him end his international career after averaging more than 50 in both Tests and ODIs.
“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,” de Villiers said. “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.”