AB Calls Time On International Career

Proteas batsman AB de Villiers stunned the world of cricket by announcing he is to leave the international scene as of immediate effect.

The talented batsman who has just returned from a month playing in the IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, made the announcement on his social media channels after arriving back in South Africa following their elimination.

The news will come as a devastating blow to Cricket South Africa, with the World Cup just one year away, the star batsman leaving a massive void in the middle order that he has occupied for more than a decade in all formats.

His ability to score all around the ground, at a strike rate that Chris Gayle would be proud of, was enough to strike fear into any opposition bowlers. He has a highest ODI score of 176 against Bangladesh just several months ago, and as it turns out it his 25^th and last ODI ton.

However, it was his 149 off just 44 balls in 2015 that remains his standout innings in this format. He passed fifty in just 16 balls then soared onto his hundred off just 31, a world record that still remains for both. For good measure he followed that up a month later against the same opposition with 162 not out off just 66 balls.

His ODI average from 228 matches stands at a brilliant 53.50.

This form was transferred into the T20 format just as successfully, playing for his country, the Titans and in the IPL for the Delhi Daredevils and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Looking at his form in the most recent IPL 20, which he starred in yet again, one beggars’ belief that the international scene will lose such a talented player still at the top of his game.

What made De Villiers an even more exceptional talent was his ability to transform his ODI and T20 form onto the Test arena. In 114 Test for the Proteas he scored 8,765 runs, with 22 centuries, 46 half centuries, at an incredible average of 50.66. His highest score of 278 not out stood as a South African record for just over a year, before it was surpassed by teammate Hashim Amla with his 311 against England.

It doesn’t stop there! De Villiers also spent 23 Tests and 59 ODI’s playing behind the stumps, albeit reluctantly. Alongside his fielding this was yet another discipline he was quite exceptional at.

De Villiers has cited tiredness for wanting to call time on his international career, and refuses to be treated differently by Cricket South Africa, in the sense that he can pick and choose his matches for his country. “Everything or Nothing,” as De Villiers described it in his own words, the same attitude he has approached his cricket with throughout his career.

AB, as he is fondly known around the world, without question leaves the game in a better state than it was when he began his career, such has been his impact. He is respected by his peers the world over and has been a wonderful ambassador for his country and for the game of cricket. A man that has played the game in it’s true spirit.

While South African fans will be extremely sad to see their hero leave the fold, cricket fans around the world will be pleased to know that he is not leaving the game altogether. He will continue to play for his franchise the Titans and of course the big hitting and very lucrative T20 tournaments around the world.

So rest assured, the entertainment will continue from one of the very best players, not only of his generation, but of all time.