The International Cricket Council (ICC) made a big announcement on Wednesday, October 17, as they introduced three former cricketers into the ICC’s Hall of Fame category. The former South African superstar AB de Villiers, English captain Alastair Cook, and Indian women’s legend Neetu David have now been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
ICC chose Cook as inductee no. 113, followed by De Villiers and Neetu as nos. 114 and 115, respectively. The ICC Hall of Fame was inaugurated back in 2009, when the cricket governing body decided to celebrate the cricket achievements of legends of the game.
ICC announced Alastair Cook, AB de Villiers and Neetu David into Hall of Fame
Cook has represeted England in 161 tests, 92 ODIs, and 4 T20Is between 2006 and 2018. He retired with second-most runs for England at international level. Cook scored 15737 runs at an average of 42.88, with 38 centuries and 76 half-centuries. Cook said in a statement, “I am delighted to have been chosen to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. It is a huge honour to join some of the greatest players to have ever played the game.”
England great Alastair Cook, India legend Neetu David and dynamic South African batter AB de Villiers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame 🎖️#ICCHallOfFame #AlastairCook #NeetuDavid #ABdeVilliers #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/e48yxYXwtk
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) October 16, 2024
De Villiers was one of its kind cricketers who earned success in the second half of his career. He holds many records in cricket, including the fastest ODI fifty, hundred, and 150. He played 420 matches across three foramts between 2004 and 2018 and scored 20014 runs at an average of 48.11.
De Villiers also scored 47 centuries and 109 half-centuries. The former South Africa star reacted to that and said, “It is a tremendous honour to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, joining a select group of cricketers to be recognized in this way.”
Former Indian left-arm spinner Neetu David was the third inductee. Neetu played 10 tests and 97 ODIs for India in women’s cricket. She took 41 wickets in tests and 141 ODI wickets in her career. Her best figure of 8/53 is still the best bowling figure by a women cricketer in a Test innings.
Neetu said in a statement, “It is truly an honour 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.” Neetu was the first Indian women cricketer to take 100 ODI wickets. She finished the 2005 Women’s ODI World Cup as the leading wicket-taker, which helped India play in the final.
