close
Friday March 29, 2024

Mr 360 says goodbye to international cricket

By Agencies
May 24, 2018

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s star batsman AB de Villiers on Wednesday announced his surprise retirement from all international cricket after a glittering 14-year career playing for the Proteas.

De Villiers, 34, was famed for mixing traditional and unorthodox shots, as well as his fast scoring and ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground.

He holds the world record for the fastest half-century (16 balls), hundred (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in One-Day Internationals, and is one of the few batsmen to top the Test and 50-over rankings at the same time.

“I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect,” he said in a statement. “After 114 Test matches, 228 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired.”

The middle-order batsman said it had taken him a long time to make the “tough” decision and that he decided to quit while still playing “decent cricket”.

“After the fantastic series wins against India and Australia, now feels like the right time to step aside,” he said. “It would not be right for me to pick and choose where, when and in what format I play for the Proteas. For me, in the green and gold, it must be everything or nothing.”

He added he had no plans to play overseas but would continue in league competitions, saying: “It’s not about earning more somewhere else, it’s about running out of gas and feeling that it is the right time to move on.”

“I have no plans to play overseas. In fact, I hope I can continue to be available for the Titans in domestic cricket. I will continue to be the biggest supporter of (captain) Faf du Plessis and the Proteas.”

De Villiers retired with a Test average of 50.66 and as the fourth-highest run-scorer for South Africa with 8765 runs, with 22 100s.

In limited overs, he finished as the number two ranked batsman in the world and as the second highest run-scorer behind Jacques Kallis with 9,577 runs at an average of 53.50.

The 34-year-old only returned to Test cricket in December after a lengthy hiatus where he focused on the limited overs formats of the game.

“AB is one of the all-time greats of South African cricket who has thrilled spectators around the world with his sheer brilliance, coupled to his ability to innovate and take modern day batting... to new levels,” said Cricket South Africa (CSA) President Chris Nenzani.

“It goes without saying that he is going to be greatly missed wherever international cricket is played.”

CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe said De Villiers’ decision ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales was disappointing but respected.

“AB has been a colossus on the world stage for well over a decade,’ he said.

“His ability to improvise has made him known as Mr 360 degrees in white ball cricket and we will never ever forget those remarkable innings that earned him the fastest 50. 100 and 150 in ODI cricket.”

With a young family, De Villiers has hinted at international retirement in the last few years, but this past season committed to playing for his country in all three formats.

In his 2016 autobiography, he revealed he had two major career goals remaining — to beat Australia in a home Test series and win the World Cup. He achieved the first of those earlier this year, but said last month he was no longer as determined to complete the second in England next year.

“I’m taking it one game at a time,” De Villiers was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council website. “My ultimate dream is not to win a World Cup. I’ve changed my mind-set. I feel it will be nice to win it, it’ll be a bonus, but if I don’t, it’s not going to define my career.”