Putting aside today’s rare blemish at the hands of Indian spinners, AB De Villiers seems unable to do little wrong these days. 100 Tests, nearly 8,000 runs and an average of 52 tells a formidable story. Yet much of his reputation rests on his even more amazing one-day record.
Again, the stats tell much of the story: 195 ODIs, 8,403 runs, an average of 54 and, even better, a strike rate of more than a run a ball. Extraordinary! And he seems to improve with age. The loss of Kallis and Smith has left the South African batting weaker but now everything seems to be relying on AB and his partner in class, Hashim Amla. In the current series with India, it’s AB whose wicket is the one they want. Following three successive one-day centuries, he battled to a couple of ‘halfs’ in the opening Tests while all around him collapsed to Ashwin, Jadeja et al so that reputation is well deserved.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler’s woes were conveniently forgotten after his latest 50-over blast against Pakistan, the third time he has broken England’s fastest hundred record in recent years. Poor Jason Roy. Strikes a maiden international century and few seem to be interested! As a wicketkeeper, comparisons with De Villiers are inevitable, but utterly ridiculous. Unless you consider the Twenty20 format….
AB’s T20 international career is his Achilles heel but when you include all the IPL and other biff-bash stuff, his century count and strike rate look world class. But so do those of Buttler. A top score of 72 not out is hardly earth-shattering, but an SR of 144 is one of the best in cricket. As a finisher down the order, few are superior to Jos. I remember seeing him a few times at Taunton as a teenager or 20 year-old. While Kieswetter and Trescothick peppered the legside boundary up the order, young Jos could improvise with innovative shots like the ‘inside out’ over extra cover for a rapid 30 or 40 not out.
Trouble is, Buttler has yet to learn the ropes in first-class cricket. That’s why Kieswetter was preferred to him as Somerset’s regular ‘keeper and why Buttler consequently jumped ship to Lancashire, a so-called ‘bigger’ county. An average in the longer form of 34 is satisfactory but way short of AB’s. Yet AB doesn’t thrash the ball around in Test matches. He says he learned how not to get out several years ago, not taking unnecessary risks.
Renowned strokemakers like Sehwag and Gilchrist retired with Test match strike rates in the 80s, yet AB’s is a relatively sedate 55. Buttler is a creation of the modern era; a brilliant batsman capable of thinking on his feet and with supreme timing able to find the boundary almost at will. AB is, too, but has the added advantage of knowing not only his considerable strengths but also the requirements of the different formats, especially the number one: five-day cricket.
Jos Buttler is just 25, six years younger than the South African maestro, and there is still time to learn.his first-class trade in county cricket to become a Test superstar. The thing is: does she want to or need to, given that the rewards of the sport lie mainly in limited overs, where his talents are most obvious? Meanwhile, let’s relish the all-round brilliance of AB De Villiers while we can. One he learns how to negate spin on a turning wicket, no bowler will ever have a chance against him.
