Is AB de Villiers an ATG test batsman?

[PlayerComparisons]

Averaged 50, scored runs everywhere, had all the gears

Is he an ATG?

 

[shortpitched713]

Not by most people's definition of ATG. Would fall into ATVG for mine. The averaging over or under 50 part doesn't matter, because it's all era dependent, imho.

 

[Burgey]

No

 

[ataraxia]

No

Huh, I was sure you must've replied yes to "Is AB an ATG?" plenty-a-time.

 

[Burgey]

True. It's the "de Villiers" part here which gave me pause.

He was a terrific player though. Back half of his career was something else. Played some amazing knocks.

 

[Flem274*]

Close enough. I think we're a bit precious about the great label in general. We love a good gatekeep.

He was one of, if not the best batsmen in the world for a large part of his career. Someone will probably list year by year someone who was better but he's well in the argument. No doubt in my mind he would do well thrown into an ATG situation.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Only thing he probably lacked was the longevity, retired too early

 

[Socerer 01]

Only thing he probably lacked was the longevity, retired too early

???

he had a 14 year career and played well over 100 tests, seems long enough

 

[Socerer 01]

he could have been a dark horse atg keeper batsman if he kept in more than 24 matches. was a handy gloveman and averaged 57 when he had the gloves too but 24 seems too low to elevate him into atg status

 

[PlayerComparisons]

???

he had a 14 year career and played well over 100 tests, seems long enough

Compared to like ATGs who played 150+ tests

 

[Socerer 01]

Compared to like ATGs who played 150+ tests

dude there’s only 10 players who have played more than 150 tests and the 11th is Jayawardene with 149

 

[PlayerComparisons]

dude there’s only 10 players who have played more than 150 tests and the 11th is Jayawardene with 149

Ok nvm. 114 just seemed a little underwhelming compared to other atgs in recent times but I guess it’s enough

 

[Sunil1z]

To those who don’t consider ABD ATG , What is your logic behind the decision?

 

[subshakerz]

No. He spent more of his career in the shadow of Kallis, Smith and Amla. He is just a regular great.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Compared to like ATGs who played 150+ tests

you got people out here putting george headley in their atg xi ffs

 

[StephenZA]

Won't make the SA best 11 unless you play him as a wicketkeeper.

 

[Gob]

No

 

[Bolo.]

Close enough. I think we're a bit precious about the great label in general. We love a good gatekeep.

He was one of, if not the best batsmen in the world for a large part of his career. Someone will probably list year by year someone who was better but he's well in the argument. No doubt in my mind he would do well thrown into an ATG situation.

No. He spent more of his career in the shadow of Kallis, Smith and Amla. He is just a regular great.

Kinda feel like both of you are a bit off in opposite directions. Your quality compared to contemporaries shouldn't matter too much without assessing the quality of the contemporaries.

But also, he was overshadowed by the RSA bats for a long time because they peaked at an earlier date. Makes no difference to me when a player peaked. Kallis at least was also better tbf, so depends on how much of a gap between Kallis and the bottom tier ATGs you think there is.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

depends on how much of a gap between Kallis and the bottom tier ATGs you think there is

Pretty big. He won an awful lot of matches.

 

[Niall]

Absolutely.

The average is fantastic and what makes it more remarkable when you analyze the numbers they are not inflated by minnow bashing or his home record. He actually has poor numbers v Bangladesh compared to elsewhere!

The South Africa test side who he was a key member of were arguably the best test side since Pointing's Australia and their away record was remarkable, AB showed up in pretty much all their main wins whether England or Australia.

He also was one of the most compelling test batsmen when in the zone.

AB de Villiers batting bowling stats, averages and cricket statistics, 2024

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