Personal milestones doesn't mean a thing to me, claims AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers has shown complete disregard for the 10000-run milestone as he believes that the landmark does not matter to the right hander. Only distinguished batsmen from the history of the game have crossed 10k mark to cement their stature as legends of the game.

De Villiers needs another 825 runs to reach the 10k club in One-day internationals. He has amassed as many as 9125 runs in 216 matches for South Africa at an astounding strike rate of 100.16. He also averages 54.28 in the 50 over format, with 52 half centuries and 24 centuries to his name. AB de Villiers also holds the record for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in One-day Internationals.

AB de Villiers would be the 11th batsman to reach the 10000-run club in One-day cricket after the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Lara, Jayasuriya, Ponting, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Kallis, and Sangakkara. The explosive right-hander stated in a promotional event for the launch of his app AB17, “I mean no disrespect to anyone who has ever achieved that, but it means absolutely zero to me to achieve 10,000 runs. I don’t care about that at all”

AB de Villers further professed that ICC has done well to preserve the purest form of the game especially after the advent of T20 cricket. But the Protean believes that Test Cricket is here to stay after witnessing some of the most unbelievable matches in the recent years.

“The way T20 has hit the ground, it was always going to be a challenge for Test cricket to keep the people involved and interested. But the ICC have got it right in the last few years, not neglecting Test cricket. There’s been some unbelievable Test cricket played over the last five-seven years. Some games I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing.” he confessed.

He further propagandised the virtue of the longest format of the game as it is the real test for a player. “I’ve no doubt in my mind that the format is going nowhere; it’s definitely here to stay… forever, hopefully. I love watching Test cricket, and as a player, I know it’s the real challenge and the real test for a player. If you can survive in Test cricket, then you know you can play the game. I believe the ICC have got it right over the last few years to make sure Test cricket survives.”

He also hoped that One Day Cricket will also maintain its reputation as the South African desires to bring in the World Cup home.”Hopefully not, because I still want to win a World Cup. Hopefully, it doesn’t go away. Once we win the World Cup then it can go. No, I’m kidding” quoting the RCB star.