Tim Wigmore examines the legacy of AB de Villiers after the South African’s decision to retire from international cricket

PLANET CRICKET

Simply the best: AB de Villiers mastered all three formats
PICTURE: Getty Images

AB de Villiers was like an explorer investigating the outer possibilities of batting.
There has never been a more complete batsman. No one has so mastered the contrasting demands of the three formats, whose skills are diverging so rapidly that players talk of limited-overs and Test cricket as being completely different sports...