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Is AB de Villiers the greatest ever South African ODI cricketer?

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Ted123

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He is quite easily their best ever odi batsmen.

Do you think he is already SA's best ever odi cricketer ahead of Klusenar, Kallis, Donald and Pollock?

He kept gloves for some time too and filled the 5th bowler void for SA during 2015 WC.

The discussion is limited to ODIs only. Views?
 
Of course. He's the second best ODI batsman of all-time, behind only King Viv and on top of that he is excellent in the field and behind the stumps. Decent captain as well.

That puts him ahead Donald, Amla, Pollock and Kallis.
 
Probably yes but klusner and Donald aren’t far behind.
 
I don't think that there is any debate here. He is surely the best ODI cricketer from SA.
 
Has he ever played a match winning innings in a high profile tournament game which led to victory for his team?

He won't be the greatest cricketer in the world due to that. But yes, he is the greatest South Africa have produced in my opinion.
 
I don't know why but most pick Pollock over a Donald in short format of the game. Donald at times could go for runs yes but he was obviously the most threatening.

Might have to do something with Donald bottling in 99 WC semis.
 
On topic, Klusenar has a strong case but he didn't played too long.

So it's between AB and Pollock. Think AB takes this. Pollock messed up with his calculations in WC 2003.
 
SM1989 said:
The thread is about ODI
Click to expand...

But you asked high profile tournament and that would include WC, CT and WT20.

Now you are free to ignore t20s because that is another format. I brought that because most posters bring WT20 while talking about tournaments although I don't rate t20s either.

So, you are free to consider only ODI tournaments and base your opinions on that. No arguments there.
 
Yes, I reckon that's fair. His closest competitors would be Shaun Pollock and Herschelle Gibbs. My top 5 would be:

1. de Villiers
2. Pollock
3. Gibbs
4. Donald
5. Klusener
 
Kallis for me. One of my fav. cricketer. Almost 600 test+odi wickets with avg of 55 and 44 in tests and ODIs.
 
I think it is between Kallis and de Villiers, but it doesn't mean much.

Being South Africa or England's best ever ODI player, or being Pakistan's best ever batsman or India's best ever pacer doesn't mean much in the greater context. The standards are pretty low.
 
Mamoon said:
I think it is between Kallis and de Villiers, but it doesn't mean much.

Being <B>South Africa</B> or England's best ever ODI player, or being Pakistan's best ever batsman or India's best ever pacer doesn't mean much in the greater context. The standards are pretty low.
Click to expand...

Why so? South Africa have always been among the top 2-3 odi teams in the world although they haven't won any big ICC tournaments but produced players like Klusenar, Donald, Kallis and Pollock
 
Yes probably. I just find it very difficult to concede anything for South Africa given their shocking MIA in the tournaments
 
I certainly recon so. Very innovative and aggressive, although not clutch.
 
Ted123 said:
Why so? South Africa have always been among the top 2-3 odi teams in the world although they haven't won any big ICC tournaments but produced players like Klusenar, Donald, Kallis and Pollock
Click to expand...

Rankings in Limited Overs don’t matter unless you justify them when it matters.
 
Its easier to compare South african cricketers amongst each other as opposed to cricketers from other nationalities since the choke factor is negated(as they are all chokers). Therefore, with the choke factor being cancelled out, AB is no doubt the best amongst his South african peers as he is a phenomenal run scorer despite this donwnside.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ab Fan said:
I don't know why but most pick Pollock over a Donald in short format of the game. Donald at times could go for runs yes but he was obviously the most threatening.

Might have to do something with Donald bottling in 99 WC semis.
Click to expand...

Donald has generally been under rated , he was a champion bowler. Among top 10 ever pacers.
 
Ab Fan said:
I don't know why but most pick Pollock over a Donald in short format of the game. Donald at times could go for runs yes but he was obviously the most threatening.

Might have to do something with Donald bottling in 99 WC semis.
Click to expand...

Donald took 4-32 in that game. He had done his part as a bowler.
 
Justcrazy said:
Donald has generally been under rated , he was a champion bowler. Among top 10 ever pacers.
Click to expand...

Yes he is one of the greatest but Pollock is rated higher in ODIs.

Now Pollock himself is underrated a lot and in tests Donald is considered one of the finest and is anyways better than Pollock in that format.
 
Yes. Very Exciting and very innovative.. Overall, one of the unique cricketers in the world.
 
Ab Fan said:
Yes he is one of the greatest but Pollock is rated higher in ODIs.

Now Pollock himself is underrated a lot and in tests Donald is considered one of the finest and is anyways better than Pollock in that format.
Click to expand...

Pollock is more useful because he can bat as well , but in bowling Donald is ahead.
 
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