Three of the greatest cricketers of their time have been inducted in ICC Hall of Fame.
The ICC on October 16, 2024, announced three new inductees in the Cricket Hall of Fame. England great Alastair Cook, India legend Neetu David, and dynamic South African batter AB de Villiers are the latest names to join the illustrious club.
Sir Alastair Cook is considered to be the greatest opener England has ever produced. In 161 Tests, Cook made 12472 runs at an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and made 33 centuries as well. He also played 92 ODIs and scored 3204 runs with 5 centuries and 19 fifties to his name at an average of 36.40.
Cook’s career is marked by numerous accolades, including his pivotal role in England’s two greatest overseas victories in recent times: the 2010-11 Ashes triumph and the 2012 Test series win in India. He also holds the record of 159 consecutive Test appearances.
“It was a surprise, and certainly just when you read the list of people that you're joining, it's a great list to have joined. I feel very privileged. Every time I pulled on the English shirt, I tried my best to be as good as I could be. I had the best 20 years playing cricket. I was very lucky to stay injury-free, meet some great people, share some great highs, and some great lows, which I think are important as well, and make memories which I'll never forget,” Cook told ICC.
Neetu David will become the second Indian women’s cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, after Diana Edulji. She played 10 Tests and 97 ODIs for India from 1995-2006. A left-arm spinner, David picked up 41 Test and 141 ODI wickets. This included a record haul of 8/53 in Tests and 2 fifers in ODIs.
David said it was a great honor to join such an exclusive group and be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
“It is truly an honor to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, something that I consider to be the highest recognition available to anyone who puts on their national team jersey. This comes after a lifetime of dedication to this great sport and it caps a very special journey for me to get to this point.
To be considered a Hall of Famer alongside the greatest players that ever lived is humbling, and I am thrilled to be part of this exclusive club. I would like to thank the ICC for the recognition, as well as all the BCCI, my teammates, coaches, family, and friends that were a constant source of support throughout my career,” David told ICC.
Regarded as one of the best batters in modern-day cricket, South Africa’s AB de Villiers will be the third inductee in the ICC Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Making his debut in 2004, De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for South Africa till 2018.
He made 8765 Test, 9577 ODI, and 1672 T20I runs with a total of 47 international; centuries.
“It is a tremendous honor to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, joining a select group of cricketers to be recognized in this way. Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game… and it’s true that, whether you are a batter taking guard at the crease or a bowler pausing at the start of his run-up, you - and only you - are responsible for what happens.
That said, everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game. And I know I would have achieved nothing without the help and support of so many teammates, coaches, and support staff from my early days at school in Pretoria, through so many memorable days at the Titans and with the South Africa team - and, indeed in franchise cricket - all around the world,” he stated.
(ICC inputs)