AB de Villers' legacy in ODI cricket?

[TM Riddle]

Clearly chickened out when his Country needed him most no matter how you look at it.
So unless there's some miraculous chance of him making a comeback a la Afridi, it's safe to say that he won't ever represent SA in the world cups again.

How would it affect his legacy, Would he still be considered as GOAT or the usual rules applied in the case of judging great batsmen(about performing and winning WCs for their sides) would hold true here as well?

 

[Bhaijaan]

One has to really question the character and mental status of people choosing to disrespect and abuse AB de Villier on the day he very gracefully and within is rights decides to call it a day.

Give it a rest.

This stuff can go on in few days. Let today be the day the world acknowledges a wonderful person and a supremely gifted cricketer.

 

[TQ89]

He is one of the greatest modern batsmen. Huge entertainer as well as great match winner for his country.

 

[Rayyman]

Most complete batsman of all time. Jack of all trades.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Supremely talented and arguably the most entertaining ODI batsman ever. Would have loved to see him win an ICC trophy but alas.

 

[hk031992]

Great. But even as a fan of his, as an ODI player, he is behind the likes of Ponting, Tendulkar, Symonds, Gilchrist and a few others. Still arguably all time top 10

 

[Rayyman]

Great. But even as a fan of his, as an ODI player, he is behind the likes of Ponting, Tendulkar, Symonds, Gilchrist and a few others. Still arguably all time top 10

Far ahead of Symonds and Gilchrist. Easily Top 5 and arguably Top 3.

 

[hk031992]

Far ahead of Symonds and Gilchrist. Easily Top 5 and arguably Top 3.

Not sure. Gilchrist had a different role, i.e. to get his team off to a quick start. Gilchrist had those three great innings in wc finals. Granted, Ab performed in wc's too. But we cannot discount Gilchrist just because he did not average 50 and had a different role to play.

 

[Rayyman]

Not sure. Gilchrist had a different role, i.e. to get his team off to a quick start. Gilchrist had those three great innings in wc finals. Granted, Ab performed in wc's too. But we cannot discount Gilchrist just because he did not average 50 and had a different role to play.

Gilchrist did his role better than anybody. The GOAT keeper-bat.

But as a batsman overall he was not as skilled.

He would not be able to bat at #4 and average 50+.

AB can pretty much do everything with the bat in ODIs.

 

[hk031992]

yeah fair enough

Ab is definitely behind Viv, Tendulkar and Ponting. He is just as talented as any of them but those guys achieved more on the big stage. I don't see how that is debatable. So he is not top 3. But anywhere from 4-10 is acceptable

 

[Rayyman]

yeah fair enough

Ab is definitely behind Viv, Tendulkar and Ponting. He is just as talented as any of them but those guys achieved more on the big stage. I don't see how that is debatable. So he is not top 3. But anywhere from 4-10 is acceptable

He is in my Top 2 with Viv. I know Sachin and Punter did more on the big stage but they were not as talented or skilled overall as batsmen. For batsmen with 8000+ runs I would rate them on ability.

To each their own.

 

[Ab Fan]

He will definitely end up as ODI legend although would have been nice to get to 10,000 runs and be the part of WC 2019 alongside Amla and Faf.

A bit shocking decision to retire but its all upto the man himself.

 

[CadPakFan]

Whatever people say about him, I will always remember him as a legend I mean come on. Have any of you seen anyone who can play shots like he does? He's also the first batsman to retire with a 50+ average and a 100+ strike rate! I mean that is just out of this world even in today's batting age.

 

[Aman]

Great to watch when he gets going.

Don't rate him that high because of his failures under pressure.

 

[Aman]

yeah fair enough

Ab is definitely behind Viv, Tendulkar and Ponting. He is just as talented as any of them but those guys achieved more on the big stage. I don't see how that is debatable. So he is not top 3. But anywhere from 4-10 is acceptable

He's behind them, Kohli, Dhoni and Gilchrist IMO.

 

[Rahul1]

Lost all the respect I had for him after this cowardly announcement. Could have waited atleast till the WC next year.

 

[Rahul1]

He's behind them, Kohli, Dhoni and Gilchrist IMO.

Also Bevan.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The innings he played against the Windies in the previous world cup has to be one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. A legend of the shorter format.

 

[QalandarFan]

My favorite batsman of all time.

Averaging 50 at a SR of above 100 is no easy feat in fact in the last decade of his career so from 09-onwards he has averaged a staggering 63 with a SR of 108! That is crazy to think about. That is a whole 10 years. He kind of started off his career pretty slow in both formats but given time (3-5 years) he really started showing the ability and talent he possessed. If you ask me he definitely under achieved in the Test format and could have done a lot better. However in ODI's I think he did the best he could once he found his feet the only thing I would have liked to see from him is converting a few more of those fifties into hundreds. I truly believe he could have ended up with around 35 hundreds in the ODI format. However playing at the SR he does there is always a chance of getting out. I will never get the year 2015 for us Pakistani's as a cricketing year it was pretty bad but the one thing I did enjoy about that year was ABD! He had a unimaginable dream run. Piled up some of the fastest and most brutal innings you will ever see. However for me his performance against India that year was jaw dropping. I mean I watched almost every match in that series just to watch Ab bat. He scored 3 freaking hundred against India in India! I mean that was truly something. I think AB 2015 was one of the best calendar years for a batsman in the history of ODI cricket. Averaging 80 at a SR of 140, to add to that he got 5 hundreds! Truly an ODI Legend!

 

[Bilal7]

The second greatest ODI batsman of all-time, behind only Viv Richards. However, he's a little overrated in tests.

 

[PakSarZameen]

Flopped in knockout games. Can't rate such players too highly.

 

[AFM]

Flopped in knockout games. Can't rate such players too highly.

So you don't rate Waqar Younis?

AB is an ATG ODI batsman. Makes into the AT XI. To avg 50+ with 100+ SR is mind boggling. To do it with the innovation he showed is simply genius.

 

[Abdul]

Chickened out when it mattered the most.

 

[hk031992]

Flopped in knockout games. Can't rate such players too highly.

he performed in last wc knockout game vs NZ. His teammates failing has nothing to do with him.

 

[hk031992]

Great to watch when he gets going.

Don't rate him that high because of his failures under pressure.

when did he fail under pressure? He performed last wc including in the semi's.

 

[Adijazz1706]

#3 after and Sachin/Ponting

 

[ManFan]

No one can question his ability and the numbers attest to that.

However, he has done irreparable damage to his status by retiring one year before the WC.

All the best to him in his retirement.

 

[Hasan123]

One of the best ever in LO . His failures in big icc tournaments prevent him from being the true GOAT imo.

 

[Smbhayi]

he performed in last wc knockout game vs NZ. His teammates failing has nothing to do with him.

sorry he lost that match.. he missed a simple run out chance at crucial phase..

 

[Hawkeye]

Tough between him and Kohli.

You can rate them equal or one over the other and you won't be wrong.

Not huge wins under his belt like Ponting, but that's to do with the team.

Both Kohli and AB better in LOIs than the likes of Tendulkar.

 

[hk031992]

sorry he lost that match.. he missed a simple run out chance at crucial phase..

that has nothing to do with this batting ability. Come on, this is a joke. He batted beautifully and we are talking about him as a fielder.

 

[giri26]

Brilliant ODI player and is one of the legends of the game.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The most naturally gifted batsman I have ever watched.

However, he has no legacy. First, he hid behind inferior batsmen when he could bat in top 4 and achieve far more. Now, he's retired at 34 when his team badly needed him.

I really wish SA win the World Cup in 2019 without him.

 

[Smbhayi]

that has nothing to do with this batting ability. Come on, this is a joke. He batted beautifully and we are talking about him as a fielder.

nobody question his batting ability... People questions about his handling of pressure.

 

[dauntless]

2nd best after viv Richards. His stats are insane.Most talented to play the game.