5 things AB de Villiers did not achieve in his career

de Villiers was as destructive as anyone could be when in full flow
de Villiers was as destructive as anyone could be when in full flow

South African right-hander AB de Villiers shocked the entire cricketing fraternity on Wednesday by announcing his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

The 34-year-old, who made his international debut against England at Port Elizabeth in 2004, leaves the game having played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is in a career lasting just under 14 years.

During that time span, there was a lot he achieved and a lot that he didn't. Here are five things he hoped he had in his CV before leaving the game:


No ODI 200 and T20I 100

AB de Villiers leaves the international scene as the holder of the fastest ODI hundred and the fastest ODI 150. Yet when you look at the list of players with an ODI double hundred, his name would not be there and for a player as capable as him, it certainly was something that he could have done, but could not do.

In 78 T20Is for his country, he could muster only a career-best of 79 not out, even as several other players with half the amount of potential have reached the coveted three-figure mark in the shortest format.

No triple hundred in Test cricket

de Villiers could reach the 300 mark in Test cricket during his career
de Villiers could reach the 300 mark in Test cricket during his
career

AB de Villiers' Test career saw several highs. Twin Test series wins in Australia in 2008 and 2012. Twin Test series wins in England in 2008 and 2012. Test wins in India in 2008 and 2010.

His own batting contributions in those wins were huge and at one point in his career, the right-hander held the record for the highest individual score by a South African, when he made 278 not out against Pakistan in UAE in 2010.

It was thought that in years to come he would have the opportunity to better that performance and get a triple hundred, but that was not to be and he ended his career with that score as his best.

Not breaching the 10000 run mark in any of the format

In a career lasting just 14 years, de Villiers could not breach the 10000 run mark
In a career lasting just 14 years, de Villiers could not breach the 10000 run mark

For a large part of his career, de Villiers was South Africa's best batsman. He was the wicket the opposition wanted. He was the player they dread the most.

He played some exhilarating inning during the course of his career, but eventually could not get to the 10000-run mark in Test or ODI cricket.

In the long format of the game, he finishes with 8765 runs in 114 Tests at an average of 50.66 and in ODIs his tally reads: 228 matches, 9577 runs at an average of 53.50.

Not winning a Test series in India

de Villiers conquered a lot of territories in his career, but India was not one of them
de Villiers conquered a lot of territories in his career, but India was not one of them

During his career, de Villiers toured India on three occasions. In 2008, he was the architect of a terrific South African win, when he smashed a double century at Ahmedabad, but in the following game, his side failed to stand up on a rank turner at Kanpur, eventually losing the game and helping India square the series 1-1.

Then in 2010, South Africa once again took the lead in a two-match series when they beat India at Nagpur, but in the following game in Kolkata, they were defeated by a resilient India who won the game to level the series at 1-1.

On his final tour in 2015, de Villiers played a critical role in his side winning the ODI series, but on turning pitches, he and his side failed to deliver, eventually losing the series 3-0.

He may have breached a lot of foreign territories during his career, but a Test series win in India eluded him.

No ICC silverware

de Villiers had many chances to win a limited-overs silverware but could not do so
de Villiers had many chances to win a limited-overs silverware but could not do so

Undeniably, the biggest void of his career. de Villiers played in three ICC 50-over World Cups in 2007, 2011 and 2015, but could not lift the coveted crown in any of those editions.

He played in six World T20 events in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 and South Africa could not go all the way in any of those. He was part of the Champions Trophy squad in 2006, 2009 and 2013 but could not win the competition.

There are several players in the game who possess half the ability as he does but have featured in teams who have won at least one of these events. Perhaps it was not meant to be for de Villiers. Hopefully, in the coming years, cricket writers and historians don't judge him because of this void in his career.

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