AB de Villiers in Tests: Statistical Analysis

AB is arguably the most complete batsmen in cricket right now

It is now a foregone conclusion that AB de Villiers is not only the best ODI player of the current generation but also one of the greatest batsman to ever grace the 50 over format. However, de Villiers, who until last week was ranked as the number one Test batsman, often faces flak for not being as good a Test batsman as he is in the shorter formats.

But is AB really an ordinary Test batsman?

It is often said that statistics do not show the correct and complete picture. However, one simply has to accept that they do, if analysed in the correct manner.

Career Summary

Ever since the first Test against England in Lord’s in 2008, the match that turned around his career, AB has been revelation for the Proteas and has been the mainstay of their batting lineup across all formats.

Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s
101	7779	278*	51.51	21	38

Only 35 batsmen in the history of Test cricket have managed to average over 50 in Test matches having played at least 25 matches. de Villiers’ career average of 51.51 is also the 25th best aggregate in the history of Test cricket.

Against top the top 7 Test playing nations:

	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s
v Australia	20	1641	169	48.26	5	9
v England	16	1183	174	45.50	2	6
v India	16	1038	217*	39.92	3	4
v New Zealand	10	546	97	39	0	5
v Pakistan	12	1112	278*	65.41	4	3
v Sri Lanka	7	691	160*	62.81	1	5
v West Indies	13	1347	178	84.18	6	5

~ de Villiers averages over 39 against all Test playing notions hereby bearing testimony to the fact that he hasn’t really struggled against any side.

~ de Villiers has scored a century against all the nations apart from New Zealand against whom his highest score is 97.

Test record away from home

Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s	Difference of overall and away average
47	3892	217*	55.60	9	18	4.09

~ AB has a more impressive record away from home averaging 55.60. His overall average of 51.51 is lesser than his average away from home bearing testimony to the fact that de Villiers is at ease in playing conditions outside South African territory.

Away from Home against the Top 7 Test playing nations

	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s
in Australia	9	671	169	44.73	2	4
in England	7	545	174	54.50	1	1
in India	8	545	217*	45.41	1	3
in New Zealand	3	218	83	43.60	0	2
in Pakistan	2	131	77	43.66	0	1
in Sri Lanka	4	338	95	42.25	0	3
in West Indies	7	790	178	87.77	3	3
in UAE (v Pakistan)	4	581	278*	116.20	2	1
in Asia (UAE, Pak, SL, Ind)	18	1595	278*	56.96	3	8

A lot of talk over the past few weeks has ensued over de Villiers’ lack of ability against spin. Can someone average over 115 in the UAE against Pakistan, arguably the best spinning line up in the sub-continent in the past decade if he isn’t comfortable against spin? Or average over 56 in Asia against all 3 nations?

~ He averages over 42 away from home at all venues.

~ He has a century in each country where he has played at least 5 test matches

Is the consistency and versatility still lacking?

Inning wise analysis

	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s
1st Innings	47	2423	278*	55.06	7	10
2nd Innings	53	2893	217*	57.86	9	15
3rd Innings	37	1436	169	44.87	3	7
4th Innings	30	1027	106*	41.08	2	6

Yet another testament to his completeness in Test cricket is that he has never really struggled batting first or second in Tests, averaging over 40 regardless of which innings he has batted in.

Over the years

Year	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100’s	50’s
2004	2	108	52*	36	0	1
2005	11	1008	178	53.05	3	5
2006	11	570	97	27.14	0	4
2007	9	387	77	27.64	0	3
2008	15	1061	217*	58.94	4	2
2009	6	572	163	57.20	2	4
2010	11	996	278*	76.61	3	4
2011	5	377	99	47.12	0	4
2012	10	815	169	58.21	2	2
2013	9	933	164	77.75	4	5
2014	8	631	152	48.53	2	2
2015	4	321	148	53.50	1	2

~ Barring his initial years, de Villiers has never averaged below 47 in any calendar year since 2009.

AB trivia

~ de Villiers has never been dropped from the South African side since making his debut.

~ He has played 98 consecutive Test matches since his debut, a World record.

~ He has batted in all positions from 1 to 8 in Test cricket.

~ He once held the record for the highest individual score by a South African, only to be broken by his teammate Hashim Amla.

~ He the rather unique record of playing the most innings without a duck since his debut in Test cricket. Between December 2004 and November 2008, de Villiers played 78 Test innings and was off the mark every single time, before the 2nd Test of the 2008-09 series against Bangladesh.

~ He also was the first South African to register a double ton against India, a feat he achieved on Indian soil.

~ He once scored 33 runs of 220 balls to help his side secure an improbable draw.

~ His career best rating of 935 points is the 11th best overall in the history of Test cricket.

So let us ask ourselves once again, is de Villiers only an average Test batsman?