3 batsmen who could replace AB de Villiers in Proteas ODI squad

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AB de Villiers always knows how to leave his fans and the cricketing world simply stunned. His shocking announcement that he would retire from international cricket was perhaps one of the most breathtaking moments which the superstar has given us in his illustrious career.

It was highly anticipated that de Villiers would continue to play for South Africa until the 2019 World Cup in England. This was especially due to his frequent statements of wanting to win a major ICC tournament.

"I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect," de Villiers said on Wednesday (May 23). "After 114 Test matches, 228 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired," de Villiers explained.

His announcement does make it clear that he has reached a point where 14 years of cricket has taken its toll on him. A look at his statistics show just how much the maestro has accomplished in his years and why it makes sense that he feels now is the right time to call it a day.

Statistics

De Villiers holds the record for the fastest 50, 100 & 150 in ODI history:

50 off 16 balls vs WI, Johannesburg, 2015

100 off 31 balls vs WI, Johannesburg, 2015

150 off 64 balls vs WI, SCG, 2015

De Villiers has scored the most runs for South Africa in World Cups - 1207 runs from 22 innings; Avg 63.52; SR 117.29; 4x100s

AB de Villiers is the only player who has batted at least 20 innings in ODIs to average 50+ and score at a 100+ strike rate.

With statistics such as those mentioned above, it is clear that South Africa will be searching desperately for a suitable replacement for de Villiers. The man is truly a legend and the Proteas will have their work cut out trying to find someone who can fill his shoes.

South Africa is a country which is rich in cricketing talent and there are few batsmen who might be able to use this as an opportunity to rise to the challenge and cement a name for themselves. When Sachin Tendulkar retired for India it was Virat Kohli who would answer the call for a master batsman for the Indian side.

This article will look at three South African batsmen who could do the same for their country.

#1. Aiden Markram

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Aiden Markram made his debut for the Proteas during their home Test series against Bangladesh. Since then Markram has gone on to face stronger opposition such as India and Australia and has shown that he does indeed possess extraordinary talent.

The Test series against Australia was perhaps Markram's coming of age. He looked to be calm and in control at the crease and played with great amounts of maturity. He is currently in the South African Test squad but the ODI series against India was a clear indication that the South African coaching staff have set their sights on Markram being the next ODI captain.

Although Markram failed to really get going during the ODI series against India, he still showed that he is a talent which needs to be taken seriously. He has already earned himself the title of being the only South African captain to win an ICC World Cup when he led his young side to the under-19 trophy, and it looks like he is set to repeat this with the senior team.

#2 Dean Elgar

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Dean Elgar has been used by South Africa exclusively as a Test batsman but the gap which de Villiers leaves in the side might just be Elgar's ticket into the ODI squad.

Elgar has been a part of the South African side for a few years now and has shown the cricketing world that he is a dependable batsman. He is certainly one of the toughest batsmen out there and has proved to have the tenacity and fight to grind it out and stick at the crease.

This is something which South Africa might consider to be quite attractive when it comes to their middle order. South Africa have shown in recent years that their middle order is pretty vulnerable and that the early loss of their top order usually poses a problem for the team when it comes to batting.

Granted, the same can be said for just about any cricketing side, but South Africa have too frequently collapsed and found themselves in a spot of bother when they were cruising to victory.

Elgar is someone who could add that much-needed stability in the middle order. He isn't someone who will simply give his wicket away, and is happy to nudge the ball here and there to keep the scoreboard ticking. He has also shown that he has tremendous defensive skill and can frustrate bowlers with his patience.

Elgar also brings a bit of seniority and experience into the squad which is something that will be missed now that de Villiers has retired.

#3 Heinrich Klaasen

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Heinrich Klaasen was one of the Proteas' biggest discoveries during their home series against India a few months ago. The powerful batsman impressed the cricketing world when he took on India without fear, playing their bowlers with such confidence that you would think that he has been around for ages.

His debut was so impressive that he caught the eye of the Rajasthan Royals and was selected by them as a replacement for the banned Steven Smith. His brief stint at the IPL has shown that he does have some work to do when playing on Indian pitches but has also shown that he has a lot of promise and just keeps getting better and better.

His aggressive style and the ability to hit the ball cleanly will be something which South Africa will find attractive and something which they will need now that de Villiers has left the squad. Klaasen showed during both the home series against India as well as during the IPL that he is someone who likes to keep the scoreboard ticking over and that he has no fear regarding the bowling opposition which he faces.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram