Photo Credit: Instagram Photos of @icc, @sachintendulkar
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar congratulated former England batsman Alastair Cook, Indian women’s cricket icon Neetu David, and South African batting great AB de Villiers on their recent induction into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Tendulkar took to X to commend these three players for their significant contributions to the “beloved game.” He recognized Cook for redefining “patience and resilience as a Test opener,” called Neetu a “true legend of Indian women’s cricket” for her contributions both on and off the field, and praised De Villiers for transforming modern batting with his 360-degree hitting style.
“Three incredible cricketers, each having made immense contributions to our beloved game, have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Alastair Cook redefined patience and resilience as a Test opener, while Neetu David is a true legend of Indian women’s cricket, both on and off the field. AB de Villiers revolutionised modern batting with his innovative 360-degree style. Congratulations to all of them!,” wrote Sachin.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Cook, David, and De Villiers as the newest members of the Hall of Fame. Cook amassed 12,472 runs in 161 Tests with 35 centuries, solidifying his status as one of cricket’s finest. Neetu David became the second Indian woman, following Diana Edulji, to join this prestigious group. De Villiers, known as ‘Mr. 360’, further enhanced his remarkable career with this induction.
Cook, celebrated for his patience, technique, and focus, had a distinguished 12-year international career, during which he redefined consistency as a Test opener. He retired as England’s all-time leading run-scorer and remains ranked among the top six players globally, even six years after his retirement.
His accolades include key roles in England’s significant overseas victories in the 2010-11 Ashes series and the 2012 Test series in India. Cook’s leadership skills were recognized during his tenure as captain, leading the team to several notable series wins. He also holds the world record for the most consecutive Test appearances, with 159.
Neetu David, the second Indian woman to enter the ICC Hall of Fame, is celebrated for her impact on Indian cricket, both on and off the field. As a prolific spinner, she made over 100 appearances for her country and is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in women’s ODI cricket, with 141 wickets.
David was also the first Indian woman to claim 100 ODI wickets. Her most notable achievement came during a Test against England in 1995, where she took 8 wickets for 53 runs, the best figures by a woman in a Test innings.
AB de Villiers is renowned for his innovative and destructive batting style, having left a lasting impact on the game during his 14-year international career, scoring over 20,000 runs across all formats. He is celebrated for holding the record for the fastest men’s ODI century, multiple ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year awards, and numerous selections in the ICC Test Team of the Year.
De Villiers was also a prominent player in T20 cricket during its early international years. Retiring in 2018, he finished with a batting average exceeding 50 in both Test and ODI formats, with only Jacques Kallis surpassing his total of 20,014 international runs among South Africans.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
