The International Cricket Council (ICC) has proudly announced the induction of two cricket legends into the ICC Hall of Fame: England’s Alastair Cook and South Africa’s AB de Villiers. This prestigious recognition, revealed on Wednesday, celebrates the extraordinary contributions both players have made to the sport.
Renowned as one of the finest opening batsmen in Test cricket history, Cook has solidified his legacy with this honor. Over a remarkable 12-year international career, he redefined consistency as a Test opener and became England’s all-time leading run-scorer. Even six years after his retirement, Cook remains ranked among the top six run-scorers globally.
Cook’s accolades include pivotal roles in England’s two major overseas victories: the 2010-11 Ashes and the 2012 Test series win in India. His exceptional leadership saw him captain the national team for several years, guiding them to numerous notable series wins abroad. Remarkably, he holds the world record for the most consecutive Test matches played, with 159 appearances.
Expressing his surprise at the induction, Cook stated, “It was a surprise, and certainly just when you read the list of people that you’re joining, it’s a great list to have joined. I feel very privileged.” Reflecting on his career, he added, “Every time I pulled on the English shirt, I tried my best to be as good as I could be. I had the best 20 years playing cricket… and made memories that I’ll never forget.”
AB de Villiers, celebrated for his innovative and destructive batting style, has left an indelible mark on international cricket. Over a 14-year career, he amassed more than 20,000 international runs across all formats and was renowned as one of the game’s finest fielders. De Villiers holds the record for the fastest-ever men’s ODI century and has been awarded multiple ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year titles. He boasts an impressive batting average exceeding 50 in both Test and ODI cricket, with only Jacques Kallis surpassing his total runs for South Africa.
“Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game… but everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game,” de Villiers said, acknowledging the crucial support of his teammates and coaches throughout his journey.
