Is the South Africa ODI side nothing without AB de Villiers?

[Ab Fan]

IMO, AB has been carrying the SA odi side single-handedly in last 5 years. Carried the team in WC 2015.

Won the odis series in India, NZ twice, deciders vs England and Pak and many other home matches. Won the tri-series vs Aus and Zim in 2014 alongwith Faf. Took his team to a position from where they shouldn't have lost a home ODI series vs Pakistan.

Given how things are going in this series, can we say that this SA side in ODIs is a nobody without ABDV and he has been carrying the odi side on his own?

 

[Princejain191]

Last 2 years when SA has played without AB:
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...anval2=span;team=3;template=results;type=team

Win loss record of 6-1 (and that loss came in the last game). Important player but like everyone else - he is replaceable too.

 

[Ab Fan]

Last 2 years when SA has played without AB:
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...anval2=span;team=3;template=results;type=team

Win loss record of 6-1 (and that loss came in the last game). Important player but like everyone else - he is replaceable too.

Winning against the likes of SL(current one), Ban and Zim at home is absolutely nothing.

Winning against a third string Aus attack also means nothing. It was a good practice for the likes of de Kock and Miller.

 

[Ab Fan]

And scoreboard now is 110/6. SA won't let Kohli score a match-winning 100 today.

 

[Moh@n]

And scoreboard now is 110/6. SA won't let Kohli score a match-winning 100 today.

118 all out, well congrats for that

 

[barah_admi]

It's not just that AB is missing but Amla is considerably past his best or just out of form. QDK looks lost and now Faf is gone. The batting line up is very fragile with all those issues, but even with AB around, England thrashed them soundly last time.

 

[Ab Fan]

It's not just that AB is missing but Amla is considerably past his best or just out of form. QDK looks lost and now Faf is gone. The batting line up is very fragile with all those issues, but<B> even with AB around, England thrashed them soundly last time.</B>

When? Last time England toured SA, SA won the odi series 3-2 with AB winning the final match with the bat. However, SA lost the test match but that is not the point here.

 

[barah_admi]

When? Last time England toured SA, SA won the odi series 3-2 with AB winning the final match with the bat. However, SA lost the test match but that is not the point here.

No, I'm talking about the series played in England, which I think was their previous series before this India one. They performed weakly at times, as they did in the CT and were supposed to be number one ranked. I think their ODI team needs a revamp, because AB is too injury prone, Faf is good but far from exceptional, Amla is past his best and QDK may need to be dropped.

 

[big_gamer007]

It’s not about ABD he’s a star player however they have many players out of form so that doesn’t help..

 

[AAli98]

Whats this SA batsman out of form nonsense.. these same guys were feasting on bang zim bowlers. Theyv got no clue against Indian biwlers.

 

[IndianFan2018]

Whats this SA batsman out of form nonsense.. these same guys were feasting on bang zim bowlers. Theyv got no clue against Indian biwlers.

Yea, very hard for folks in this forum to give due credit to Ind bowlers, rediculous excuses will come to support whoever is playing badly and losing vs Team India

 

[Hasan123]

A lot of there players are out form. Even without AB once this batting line up is in form it's capable of scoring big scores. De Kock recent form has been a real let down.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

These 2 ODI defeats made me reflect on what was IMO South Africa's golden age in cricket in the 2013-2015 era. They were the best test team in the world since they performed at home and away tours. They had a leader in AB who unfortunately couldn't win them a world cup but inspired confidence in the team plainly through his own performance. The best limited overs batman of that period. Still remember how he used to smack ajmal around the park in the UAE tours, how he would hammer Jason holder and co. to establish world records on massive grounds, and how he batted like a lone warrior in the group stage match against pakistan and came extremely close to winning the game. He was my role model back then plainly due to how easily he made batting look. These days AB doesnt have the same aura around him anymore. Kind of wish he never took those long breaks away from cricket in 2016-2017 to begin with. He hasn't been the same since.

 

[shah_1]

To be fair many of their other star batsmen are woefully out of form.

 

[Ab Fan]

<B>Qdk being out of form I think has been the major difference here.</B>

Amla past his peak few years back and he won't be scoring on consistent basis anymore. So, we cant say he is out of form. Miller is a kind of batsmen who go hard on attacks mostly after coming to bat at 35 overs and really toy them. He hasn't get this opportunity in this series as of now while JP is just being the JP. Others are new to international cricket and will need some time to establish themselves IMO.

Faf is a very good batsmen but he doesn't have the skill-set to win the game single-handedly against top opposition. He played a wonderful inning in last match but yet SA were 25 runs short.

Barring Qdk, we cant really say anyone is out-of-form.

 

[Buffet]

Out of form players or not able to play wrist spinners? Something to ponder here for SA players.

 

[sam_ahm]

I'm a fan of Hashim so may be I'm biased but honestly, anyone who thinks Hashim is out of form needs to see his last 10-15 test, ODI and T20 scores.
May be we are so used to watching him score centuries that we feel he is out of form when he gets 50s.

It is the South African middle order that is the culprit. Players like JP and Miller are senior foljs, they need to step uo. Quinton is in bad form, i agree on that. RSA will do well to play Behardien for tge time being until AB and Faf return. Farhaan will probably do better than Zondo and Phelukwayo.

 

[aloo paratha]

SA just cant' play spin.

 

[introvert]

De Kock is out of form
Amla is fading force now
and They don't have their best middle order players faf and abd due to injury.
Dumini and miller are inconsistent and unreliable players.

 

[The_Odd_One]

SA will be SL level team once Amla, AB, and Steyn retire and the day is not far.

 

[Nitya85]

A lot of there players are out form. Even without AB once this batting line up is in form it's capable of scoring big scores. De Kock recent form has been a real let down.

You said it right bro
Ths all Indian wins are jus flukes

 

[Bhaijaan]

He was certainly the X factor in this average team.

I’m big stages even he failed but at least I games like these against Bangladesh he would have smacked a quick century and taken them home with ease

 

[shane]

When it came to important tournaments, they were nothing even with De Villiers. In fact, he was the biggest choker of the lot.

 

[The Viper]

When it came to important tournaments, they were nothing even with De Villiers. In fact, he was the biggest choker of the lot.

They wouldn’t lose games vs BD though. Not taking anything away from them, but with AB this score would have been chased down.

 

[shane]

They wouldn’t lose games vs BD though. Not taking anything away from them, but with AB this score would have been chased down.

I doubt it. Bangladesh are not the pushovers they used to be. They did also lose in a similar way against Bangladesh in the 2007 world cup.

 

[j_kazmi]

Tbf he could’ve easily missed the IPL this year so he could play the World Cup.

The IPL is roughly the same length as the WC. I know he says he’s ‘tired’ but why’s he not tired of the IPL. He’s respected ATG player I feel he could’ve easily skipped a series or two to remain fresh for the WC. CSA probably would’ve accommodated this aswell.

 

[Aman]

AB was smart to retire. He can't with these cats.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

They wouldn’t lose games vs BD though. Not taking anything away from them, but with AB this score would have been chased down.

Eh I doubt it, ABD is good but he still needed peak Amla to setup a good score first. Amla has decline now and Bangladesh have pretty good record in multi-team tournaments since 2015.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

When it came to important tournaments, they were nothing even with De Villiers. In fact, he was the biggest choker of the lot.

The third highest average of all WC batsmen. Highest of all that have played 20 games or more. He gave his best in WCs.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...career_batting_average.html?id=12;type=trophy

 

[Pakpak]

Considering we almost beat them in SA and we are horrific shows you how bad this SA team is.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

AB de Villiers alone wouldn't have done anything. Amla isn't in form either.

 

[shane]

The third highest average of all WC batsmen. Highest of all that have played 20 games or more. He gave his best in WCs.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...career_batting_average.html?id=12;type=trophy

South Afrcicans generally have excellent statistics. I am talking about important runs. If De Villiers was playing today I have no doubt the result would have been the same. And the same with the bowlers. No doubt Steyn has excellent stats, but I would have put money on him messing it up in that final over in the previous WC.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

South Afrcicans generally have excellent statistics. I am talking about important runs. If De Villiers was playing today I have no doubt the result would have been the same. And the same with the bowlers. No doubt Steyn has excellent stats, but I would have put money on him messing it up in that final over in the previous WC.

He had a 65* @ 144, with 7 overs to go, when the rain arrived in the semi of 2015. Calling him a choker shows ignorance.

 

[shane]

He had a 65* @ 144, with 7 overs to go, when the rain arrived in the semi of 2015. Calling him a choker shows ignorance.

The chokers tag comes from the inability to win from winning positions on a consistent basis. It is well-earned. The innings you are talking about was when SA was batting first and the win was nowhere in sight. They were 114/3 when he came in and there was no real pressure. Of course he plays excellent innings then, hence the good average.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Some may disagree but they are missing Morne big time. He was a damn good ODI bowler. Saffers look quite beatable. And why do they keep bowling first knowing they are not a great chasing side? Lack of quality allied to some really stupid captaincy

 

[Ozymandiasza]

The chokers tag comes from the inability to win from winning positions on a consistent basis. It is well-earned. The innings you are talking about was when SA was batting first and the win was nowhere in sight. They were 114/3 when he came in and there was no real pressure. Of course he plays excellent innings then, hence the good average.

"No real pressure", lol. It's a WC semi. But I thought "he was the biggest choker of the lot"? Surely, by your defition, he should have thrown it away from such a strong winning position. You have no idea what choking is...

 

[Slog]

Some may disagree but they are missing Morne big time. He was a damn good ODI bowler. Saffers look quite beatable. And why do they keep bowling first knowing they are not a great chasing side? Lack of quality allied to some really stupid captaincy

Lol what’s there to disagree

He’s a better ODI bowler than Steyn hands down