AB de Villiers on Saturday became the only third cricketer from his country to complete 100 Test matches in his career.
South African batting mainstay AB de Villiers on Saturday became the seventh cricketer from his country to complete 100 Test matches in his career. De Villiers achieved the feat when he was named in the playing eleven for the second Test between the South Africans and India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The right-handed batsman, who made his debut against England at Port Elizabeth 11 years ago in 2004, has scored 7,685 runs in 99 Tests so far in his career at an average of more than 51. With 21 centuries and 37 half-centuries, de Villiers is also one of the most prolific scorer for South Africa in their Test history. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs South Africa 2nd Test at Bengaluru.
“As a team, we all enjoy the fact that AB is playing his 100th game. As a South African, we know that this is an amazing feat. We have all celebrated the occasion…” said the South African captain Hashim Amla on the eve of the second Test, when asked about his compatriot’s record. AB de Villiers’s 100th Test: Top 10 Test knocks by the South African superhero
The 31-year-old de Villiers, who has been South Africa’s main hope on this tour of India, said that he does not feel any pressure to perform in his 100th Test. “I don’t feel any pressure because it is my 100th game. I feel pressure because we are 1-0 down. It’s a huge honour to play my 100th Test because never in my life I thought I will be in this position. I just want to have an impact on the game and I want to play my role in the team and get us into a position where we can win this Test and get back into the series,” de Villiers said. AB de Villiers’ 100th Test: Another feather in the alien’s cap
The other six cricketers who have played 100 or more Tests for South Africa are Jacques Kallis (165), Mark Boucher (146), Graeme Smith (116), Shaun Pollock (108), and Gary Kirsten and Makhaya Ntini with 101 Tests each.
With 7,685 runs in his 99 matches, de Villiers is the third highest run-getter for South Africa in Test cricket. He has averaged 51.92, which is certainly among the best in the current batch of the South African batsmen. Kallis is at the top of the table with 13,206 runs at an average over 55, whereas Smith has 9,253 runs from 116 Test at an average touching 49.
