Who is more talented - AB de Villiers or Kevin Pietersen?

[Ted123]

Two players from same era who were arguably the most gifted players from their generation. On their day, they could take on the best bowling attacks in the world and could do things which not everyone can do.

Both geniuses of the cricket. Both underachieved. But who do you think was the more talented one?

 

[Slog]

AB is def more talented

KP's arguably had the better career despite it being cut cruelly short

What a middle order Saffers would have had btw from 2004/05-2013/14 if KP had stayed in SA and achieved same heights.

Kallis, KP, AB!!!

 

[Dead Ball]

ABDV.

I would go as far as to to say he has been a test failure given his unreal batting talent. Should have ended his career with 40 test hundreds.

I dont think Pietersen underachieved. He has more great hundreds to his name than most ATG batsmen. He was just not consistent.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

AB is the most talented batsman of the past 2 decades imo. Pure genius with the bat when he gets going. He will undoubtedly have underachieved at the end of his cricketing career.

 

[introvert]

Abd just a little more gifted batsman.
Overall I will pick kp over abd for test cricket
& abd over kp for limited overs cricket.

 

[Ab Fan]

Abdv is more talented and is also a better player than KP in every format that matters. Consistency is underrated.

KP went missing completely in some series and also had a cricketing career of mere 8 years. So AB wins in longevity too.

 

[Smudger]

How did AB underachieved?

 

[BlackShadow]

The thought that AB underachieved is overrating him a little bit. Getting out even when looking set is part of his game, he wouldn't look as talented without it.

AB >> KP in all respects.

 

[jnaveen1980]

AB is a rare 360 degree player who can pull out outrageous shots. But problem is he does it only when he has a clear mind on a given day. He even did that to Dale Steyn in the IPL. Kevin Pietersen is far above average talent as well. Kevin is a bit more calculated with his approach. He is very talented as well. Watch him play blindfolded. SA always produces great talents.

 

[Hasan123]

Abd is more talanted for me. Can score 360 degress versus pace and spin. Unreal ability.

 

[Last Monetarist]

de Villiers, sans doute. I don't think Pietersen underachieved given his ability and the fact he started as a spinner. AB on the other hand should have been among the best batsmen of all time, up there with Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Viv, Greg Chappell et al. Sadly he isn't even among South Africa's top 5 of all time.

 

[pakistani pride]

ABD of course.
KP was good but ABD has way more talent.

 

[Markhor]

De Villiers. KP was an excellent batsman too but he did struggle noticeably against left arm spin.

AB is def more talented

KP's arguably had the better career despite it being cut cruelly short

What a middle order Saffers would have had btw from 2004/05-2013/14 if KP had stayed in SA and achieved same heights.

Kallis, KP, AB!!!

Don't disagree that ECB dealt with the matter very poorly but KP just didn't know how to bite his tongue - his outspoken nature rubbed people off the wrong way.

 

[Justcrazy]

AB , no doubt .

 

[HuzaifaE]

They were definitely comparable players, but ABD was the superior player.

Talent ALONE? ABD and it's not close

 

[James]

On talent alone De Villiers would be comfortably ahead. He could spend a long winter with his feet up, drinking sherry and eating turkey sandwiches, then drive to the first game of the season, park up with his bat and saunter his way to the wicket for a glorified net session - he would then have a fair chance of caressing his way to a hundred whilst gazing at the clouds above the sight screen.

It’s a testament to the incredible work ethic of Pietersen that a pie-throwing offspinner and lower order slogger who had to emigrate alone and work his way up from the bottom rung of English cricket to make a success of himself can even compete with the likes of De Villiers.

It is widely verified in the English game - even by his detractors - that every day Pietersen would be the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. He became a world-class top order international batsman, with a particular knack for Tests, purely on perspiration and merit.

Compare this to the tough-tour-dodging “I’m tired” approach of Abraham to his career and it becomes unarguable which player has the greater mental strength.

Mental strength goes a long way in cricket. So I would choose Pietersen.

 

[AMSS]

On talent alone De Villiers would be comfortably ahead. He could spend a long winter with his feet up, drinking sherry and eating turkey sandwiches, then drive to the first game of the season, park up with his bat and saunter his way to the wicket for a glorified net session - he would then have a fair chance of caressing his way to a hundred whilst gazing at the clouds above the sight screen.

It’s a testament to the incredible work ethic of Pietersen that a pie-throwing offspinner and lower order slogger who had to emigrate alone and work his way up from the bottom rung of English cricket to make a success of himself can even compete with the likes of De Villiers.

It is widely verified in the English game - even by his detractors - that every day Pietersen would be the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. He became a world-class top order international batsman, with a particular knack for Tests, purely on perspiration and merit.

Compare this to the tough-tour-dodging “I’m tired” approach of Abraham to his career and it becomes unarguable which player has the greater mental strength.

Mental strength goes a long way in cricket. So I would choose Pietersen.

Going to quote this post for a flimsy and convenient understanding of mental strength. How about the fact that KP panicked at the first sight of quota policy and ran to England in hopes of making easy money in county cricket? No credit to ABDV for staying in South Africa and claiming a place in the national XI? Hmm. Saying that ABDV hasn't had to work hard because he was 'insanely' talented is of course but another under handed way to peddle the narrative that he prefers the easy route.

 

[Oligochaetes]

AB is THE most talented batsman to ever have set foot on this planet. The sheer number of shots in his arsenal in mind boggling.

Unfortunately he hasnt been able to convert that talent into substantial results, and hence will always be a rung below the greats of the game.

 

[James]

Going to quote this post for a flimsy and convenient understanding of mental strength. How about the fact that KP panicked at the first sight of quota policy and ran to England in hopes of making easy money in county cricket? No credit to ABDV for staying in South Africa and claiming a place in the national XI? Hmm. Saying that ABDV hasn't had to work hard because he was 'insanely' talented is of course but another under handed way to peddle the narrative that he prefers the easy route.

I don’t think you are aware of Pietersen’s background with your reply, he did not get a county contract straight away by any stretch. Not an overseas player or Kolpak situation at all. He started off living in a shoebox of a bedsit playing village cricket and pulling pints in the local pub to pay the bills. All he wanted to do was play cricket for his career, and he had to work incredibly hard through some lonely times to make it.

Conversely there is no need for me or anyone else to peddle any narrative with De Villiers, he has made his own bed with his constant evasive behaviour, cherry picking of tours, batting down the order and generally hiding from responsibility. Anyone who has worked in a high pressure job in a big team will know that there are always tough grafters on one hand and there are always work-dodgers on the other. He is the latter type of personality.

 

[Majestic]

Dont agree with hiding responsibility!

He captained for 6 years in odis, kept gloves for some time after the Boucher fiasco and also used himself as a fifth bowling option in World Cup. Well, he did it all at his peak.

Some posters severely underrate AB because of his outrageous talent.

 

[dauntless]

AB is most talented player to play this game maybe viv Richards is another one but AB is so talented he has no weakness literally.On the other hand KP is also talented but not comparable to AB.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Ab

 

[ads101]

AB is more talented. However don't agree with comments KP is a better bat. AB is better, has done better in a range of different conditions.

KP was a great bat in the first half of his career, and then merely a good one in the second one. Had he continued in the same vein as his early career he would have been comfortably ahead but he didn't.

 

[Ab Fan]

Although AB had the talent, ability and genius of a Viv Richards, he has nowhere been close to matching his capability.

However, he is still the best batsmen of his era ahead of Amla, KP, Cook, Clarke- in terms of stats, peer reputation and performance although not in the same rung, as say, Sangakkara, Kohli and Smith.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Kevin Pietersen was more aggressive in Tests. Look at his strike rate. It is over 60. But for his infighting he would have been a freaking legend. I always enjoyed watching him. The way he walks down the wicket to seamers non chalantly was refreshing to see compared to other boring English batsmen.

 

[SLcric123]

Kevin Pieterson vs AB de Villiers

Who is a better batsmen in tests?

 

[hk031992]

Interesting

in India:

KP- avg 43.94, best 186
AB- avg 45, best 217*

in UAE:

KP- avg 11, best of 32
AB- avg 116, best of 278*

in Sri Lanka:

KP- avg 44, best of 151
AB- avg 42, best of 95

Overall: AB is better in the sub continent though not my a massive margin. They both have match winning knocks in India, Kp has in Sri Lanka but not UAE, AB has in UAE but not Sri Lanka.

in England:

KP, avg 53.20, best of 226
AB- avg 54.20, best of 174

Ab only has one hundred in England in 7 matches but his average is outstanding.

In NZ:

KP- avg 38.22, best of 129
AB- avg 43, best of 80

in Aus:

KP- avg 45.76, best of 226
AB-avg 44.73, best of 169

in SA:

KP- avg 25.29, best of 81
AB- avg 47.41, best of 163

There is nothing to seperate them. They are equally good vs spin in the sub continent. KP appears to be better in the two countries that offer swing- Eng and NZ. AB appears to be better in the bouncy and seamy conditions of SA.

KP averages 47.29, AB averages 50.66. KP had a few bad series in his prime, Ab does not. AB is more consistent.

KP scored 23 hundreds to AB's 22 in 10 fewer matches. Not that big a difference. AB is far more fun to watch though.

 

[Ab Fan]

KP's career was short and dealted by ECB due to his own deeds. He was a bad and hence won't have been able to sustain in any team.

However, if he had a full-fledged career, he would have been the best batsmen of his era.But unfortunately that wasn't the case.

In contrast, de Villiers is underrated in the longer format. There are not many series he has failed since 2008 and has shown his best performance against Australia who generally are known for playing tough hard cricket.

 

[JattMaula]

KP was a once in generation batting talent. His ability to learn and improve his game was outstanding.

But ABD is ABD. He has complete game for any possible cricketing scenario. And he has delivered on that promise.

My vote goes to ABD.