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New Delhi, 16 October (Hindustan Reporter). The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday inducted Alastair Cook, Neetu David and AB de Villiers into the ICC Hall of Fame. All three have been ranked 113, 114 and 115 respectively.
The ICC Hall of Fame was launched in January 2009 as part of the ICC's centenary celebrations. Since then, it has helped honor some of the greatest players of all time in the game's long and illustrious history.
On being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Cook said, “I am delighted that I have been selected to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. It is a huge honor to be among some of the greatest players to ever play the game.”
Neetu David said, “It is truly an honor to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, which I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who wears the jersey of their national team. This has come after a lifetime of dedication to this great game, and it has been a very special journey for me to reach this point. I am thrilled to be a part of this exclusive club.”
De Villiers said, “It is a huge honor for me to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game… and that is true, whether you are the one taking guard at the crease. Be it the batsman or the bowler stopping at the beginning of his run-up, you – and only you – are responsible for whatever happens.”
Alastair Cook's cricket career
Cook has represented England in over 250 matches in international cricket. He has played 161 Test matches for England and scored 12,472 runs at an average of 45.35, he also has one wicket to his name. Apart from this, he has scored 3,204 runs in 92 ODI matches at an average of 36.40 and 61 runs in four T20 International matches at an average of 15.25.
Cricket career of Neetu David-
Whereas, Neetu David made her debut for India in February 1995 and after the retirement of Diana Edulji, she took over the responsibility of India's leading left-arm spinner. She took four wickets for 51 runs in her 30 overs in her first Test against New Zealand in Nelson, including the wicket of ICC Hall of Famer Debbie Hockley.
She was the first woman for her country to take 100 wickets in the ODI format, taking 20 wickets at an average of 8.35 in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2005 in South Africa.
She is second in the list of India's highest ODI wicket-takers, and her bowling average of 16.34 is the best average of any bowler, male or female, with at least 100 wickets in that format.
She played her 100th women's Test match against England in Jamshedpur, taking eight wickets for 53 runs, which was the record for taking the first eight wickets in women's Test cricket and this figure still remains a world record.
After announcing his retirement from international cricket in June 2006, he reversed his decision in time and helped India win the 2008 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
Neetu David has played 10 Test matches for India, in which she has taken 41 wickets at an average of 18.90, apart from this she has played 97 ODIs for the country and taken 141 wickets at an average of 16.34.
Cricket career of AB de Villiers-
De Villiers made his debut for South Africa in 2004 and by the end of his first series, he had scored his first Test century, also establishing himself as one of the finest wicketkeepers.
He played 114 Tests for South Africa and scored 8,765 runs at an average of 50.66 with 222 catches and 5 stumpings. Apart from this, he played 228 ODIs for the country and scored 9,577 runs at an average of 53.50 and made 176 catches and 5 stumpings. He scored 1,672 runs at an average of 26.12 in 78 T20 Internationals, taking 65 catches and making 7 stumpings.
He scored an unbeaten inning of 278 in a Test match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010, which was the highest individual score for South Africa in Test cricket for some time, and three years later scored 11 behind the stumps against the same opposition in Johannesburg. Took catches and equaled the Test record for most catches in a match.
He topped the ICC Player Rankings in Tests. He also topped the rankings in the ODI format, where his athleticism, explosiveness and ingenuity earned him the nickname 'Mr. 360' among global fans.
In 2015, he set new records for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODIs during his unforgettable innings of 149 and 162 not out against the West Indies, the last of which came at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2015 in Sydney.
He retired from all formats in 2018 with an average of over 50 in both Tests and ODIs, and thanks to his specialist skills in T20Is, he has dominated franchise leagues around the world.