Sports

Thanks for the memories, AB

Thanks for the memories, AB

Wednesday (May 23) seemed like a pretty ordinary day at first with some still recovering from Chennai Super Kings’ stunning win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and a few others looking forward to Kolkata Knight Riders’ Eliminator contest against Rajasthan Royals. Little did anyone know that at exactly 4:46 pm all semblance of the ordinary was going to be thrown out the window.

AB de Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket and broke the internet.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Former and current players couldn’t come to terms with it but thanked him for the memories.

Harbhajan Turbanator

@harbhajan_singh

One of the world’s finest and most versatile batsmen, retires today. He’s played brilliantly till now and the world will surely miss seeing him on the field. @ABdeVilliers17

Sachin Tendulkar

@sachin_rt

Like your on-field game, may you have 360-degree success off the field as well. You will definitely be missed, @ABdeVilliers17. My best wishes to you!

Virender Sehwag

@virendersehwag

Congratulations @ABdeVilliers17 , the most loved cricketer in the world, on a wonderful career. International cricket will be poorer without you, but you will continue to be celebrated by cricket fans around the world

Shahid Afridi

@SAfridiOfficial

Champion batsman! I always enjoyed seeing you bat, the innovations that you brought to the game were a joy to watch esp the sweep shot off fast bowlers. Always respected your enormous talent, a true great of cricket. Stay Blessed.

Shahid Afridi

@SAfridiOfficial

One of my most cherished wickets! 🙂 Most of the times it was a massive challenge getting you out. Congratulations on a wonderful career @ABdeVilliers17 👏

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Shahid Afridi

@SAfridiOfficial

One of my most cherished wickets! 🙂 Most of the times it was a massive challenge getting you out. Congratulations on a wonderful career @ABdeVilliers17 👏

Mahela Jayawardena

@MahelaJay

One of the best! Wish you all the best AB👍 amazing player but above all that great guy… 👍

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Aakash Chopra

@cricketaakash

The biggest entertainer in the last decade has bid goodbye to International cricket…your absence will be felt, AB. Cricket will be poorer. Wish you all the best for your future endeavours. Go well @ABdeVilliers17 🙌👍

Alex Blackwell

@AlexBlackwell2

True legend. Finishing on top and allowing next generation to step up. The way AB found innovative ways to dominate bowling attacks was an inspiration

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Mpumelelo Mbangwa

@mmbangwa

Wow! Didn’t see that coming!!
All the best with whatever’s next AB.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Sam Billings

@sambillings

🐐

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Marizanne Kapp

@kappie777

Sad day for @OfficialCSA and cricket in general, he will be missed!! 🇿🇦🏏

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Michael Vaughan

@MichaelVaughan

Such a shame for international cricket @ABdeVilliers17 … But he has been an unbelievable advert to how I would have loved to have played all 3 formats .. GREAT GREAT Player … Top 3 that I have ever seen ..

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today pic.twitter.com/In0jyquPOK

Courtney A Walsh

@CuddyWalsh

Enjoy retirement you will be miss for all the great things you have done for this noble game

surya77

@surya_14kumar

Gutted to hear the news!! Surely going to miss your 360 degree game, @ABdevilliers17. All the best buddy!

Peter Lalor@plalor

One of the best batsmen I ever saw. Blessed to have witnessed.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Irfan Pathan

@IrfanPathan

Watta player watta man @ABdeVilliers17 congratulation on ur great career n wish u all the luck for future endeavours

Abhinav mukund

@mukundabhinav

What a player. Respect!

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Anjum Chopra

@chopraanjum

The superman of cricket! Best of luck ABD in all your future endeavours. You have been a splendid performer with outstanding records @ABdeVilliers17. Your absence will be noticed.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Brendan Taylor

@BrendanTaylor86

Really gutted to hear this. But you only deserve to go out on your terms,what you’ve given to the world as a player and a person is second to none. One of the best EVER. Thank you Champion! @ABdeVilliers17

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Mohammad Kaif

@MohammadKaif

One of the all time greats of the game, many congratulations on an outstanding career. The Federer of Cricket, the most loved cricketer on the planet. Wish you the best for your future endeavours.

Carlos Brathwaite

@TridentSportsX

Enjoy your retirement legend, helped to revolutionize modern day batting, you will be missed 🐐

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

His South African team-mates were at loss for words too.

mark boucher

@markb46

I remember this young guy on his 1st day out for Proteas… What an inspiration, person and player he turned out to be. Thank you for everything you have done and been for your country, teammates and fans @ABdeVilliers17

Allan Donald

@AllanDonald33

So shocked to here @ABdeVilliers17 has decided to call time on his international career. But that’s just life and he feels it’s time to move on. Thank you great man for your amazing Match winning Performances, Skill Captaincy and most of all your Humility. 👏👏👏

Herschelle Gibbs

@hershybru

Everyone knows when their time has arrived,abbas is no different. Congrats on a wonderful career @ABdeVilliers17 👏

Tabraiz Shamsi

@shamsi90

One of the best players to have EVER PLAYED THE GAME!

Thank you for all the advice and lessons… all the best for your future endeavours @ABdeVilliers17 👊

Speaking of memories…

Cricket World Cup

@cricketworldcup

2️⃣3️⃣ World Cup apps
4️⃣ 100s
6️⃣ 50s
1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣7️⃣ runs
1️⃣6️⃣2️⃣* high score
6️⃣3️⃣.5️⃣ average

Happy retirement, @ABdeVilliers17! 🙌

There’s more to de Villiers than numbers, but numbers maketh a man in this game.

bet365

@bet365

AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from international cricket

8,765 Test runs, averaging over 50
9,577 ODI runs, averaging over 50
1,672 T20 runs
47 centuries
109 half-centuries
World’s fastest ODI 50, 100 & 150
Fastest Test century by a South African

One of the greats

Saj Sadiq

@Saj_PakPassion

AB de Villiers leaves international cricket as the first cricketer to retire with an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 100 in ODIs

It wasn’t just the players who felt the loss.

Saj Sadiq

@Saj_PakPassion

AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. De Villiers bows out of international cricket as one of the greatest players to have represented South Africa, having played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is

Cricketwallah

@cricketwallah

@ABdeVilliers17 retirement is massive blow to SA’s prospects in 2019 World Cup…

Gary Naylor@garynaylor999

AB de Villiers has committed 876 days to playing for South Africa – I reckon that’s fair enough if he wants to do other things.

Tom Huelin@TomHuelin1

Coming soon to a county ground near you…

ESPNcricinfo

@ESPNcricinfo

Breaking: AB de Villiers announces his retirement from all forms of international cricket

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Cricketwallah

@cricketwallah

In my opinion, @ABdeVilliers17 was world’s best batsman across formats in past 7-8 years. Wish he had played more Tests!

Cricketwallah

@cricketwallah

In my experience, only four overseas cricketers have enjoyed — perhaps even exceed — the mass popularity and admiration of Indian superstars: Sir Gary Sobers, Viv Richards, Imran Khan and @ABdeVilliers17. Because of the IPL, India had become ABD’s second home

Chinmay Bhogle@chinmaybhogle

Something about this ABD retirement just seems off. He’s still just 34, a supreme athlete, (arguably still in his athletic prime or certainly not far out of it) and in incredible form.

To retire just one year away from a World Cup and say he’s ‘tired’ – didn’t see that coming.

Daniel Brettig

@danbrettig

AB de Villiers destroyed Aust earlier this year and at times played as well as I’ve ever seen any batsman do so. The fact he’s retiring without taking a crack at the 2019 World Cup is disappointing

Snehal Pradhan

@SnehalPradhan

Please let this be a rumour. Please.

Sport24News

@Sport24news

BREAKING: @ABdeVilliers17 has announced his retirement from international cricket
More to follow…

Tim

@timwig

AB de Villiers, the best all format batsman of his generation, retiring from international cricket a year before 2019 WC is a huge blow – maybe biggest yet – to primacy of international cricket.

Melinda Farrell

@melindafarrell

I guess it had to happen some day but that day was always going to be too soon.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Harsha Bhogle

@bhogleharsha

Must admit to being a bit shocked by @ABdeVilliers17 decision to quit all international cricket. We knew it was coming but I thought he would give the World Cup another shot.

Lisa Sthalekar

@sthalekar93

Um…what the…just land in Singapore to see this news. The world of cricket will miss your skill on the field, your passion towards the game and he humbleness you showed. All the best for the future.

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

Even some big associations couldn’t hold back.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

@MCG

Well played, . 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

I’ve made a big decision today

BCCI

@BCCI

As the Proteas legend @ABdeVilliers17 calls it a day on his international career, we at BCCI would like to wish him all the very best for his future endeavours

Chennai Super Kings

@ChennaiIPL

Dear Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, you class act, the will not be the same without you! Take a bow! @ABdeVilliers17 🦁💛

While you come to terms with that, you could look back on a fine contest between Chennai and Hyderabad on Tuesday night to take a break. In short: Faf du Plessis won the game for Chennai and now MS Dhoni’s men are in the final.

Faf Du Plessis

@faf1307

Thanx so much to everyone for the kind messages.. Can’t believe that we won that game last night. Special to be there at the end. Looking forward to the final on Sunday

Dwayne DJ Bravo

@DJBravo47

Congrats to my entire team @ChennaiIPL and @faf1307 well done tonight bro… finals here we come 🙌🏽

Lungi Ngidi@NgidiLungi

Watching @faf1307 bat like that was a blessing to see under pressure the man kept his cool just beautiful to watch…

Brett Lee

@BrettLee_58

Well played @ChennaiIPL ! What a game. Awesome to watch the comeback

Sam Billings

@sambillings

WOW!!!!!! Another unbelievable win… @faf1307 🔥 ! @ChennaiIPL @IPL Final time 🙌🏼 something seriously special about this franchise! 🦁

Suresh Raina

@ImRaina

Nail biting finish! @faf1307 you beauty! @ChennaiIPL back to where we belong. The finals of the @IPL. Can’t wait for Sunday.

Mithali Raj

@M_Raj03

Indeed! @faf1307 – thank you for a glorious evening! That was a most thrilling 46 runs off 18 balls! At 64/6 Couldn’t have imagined this win against @SunRisers

Chennai Super Kings

@ChennaiIPL

The fafulous show! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #Qualifier1 #SRHvCSK 🦁💛

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So, it’s Eliminator time in the IPL, and that means Kolkata are all geared up to host Rajasthan. Fun times these!

Venky Mysore

@VenkyMysore

– proud of what u hv accomplished so far. Hoping for nothing but the best tonight! @NokiamobileIN

Nokia Mobile India

@NokiamobileIN

The big win is near and the team needs your support. Send us your own creative cheer using #PlayUnited and tagging @NokiamobileIN, to show your love for @KKRiders
Stand a chance to win 10 brand new Nokia devices and signed KKR merchandise.

Anjum Chopra

@chopraanjum

Captaincy of @DineshKarthik @KKRiders and the resilience of @ajinkyarahane88 @Rajasthanroyals promises to be an exciting match @IPL Every Champion was once a contender that refused to give up.

Aakash Chopra

@cricketaakash

: are without Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. are with a home advantage. Rajasthan Royals last beat the Knight Riders in Kolkata over 10 years ago, in 2008. Who do you think will play in ? @CareerLauncher Preview.

Aakash Chopra

@cricketaakash

Reporting live from
It’s Nice & DRY 🌞
Hope it stays this way 👍

In case you forgot, the Women’s T20 Challenge was a big deal, even a day after the game.

ICC

@ICC

Women’s T20 challenge match in Mumbai was a career highlight for @EllysePerry, who said a would be a ‘missing piece of the puzzle’.http://bit.ly/WIPLReaction 

Jatin Sapru

@jatinsapru

Top afternoon spent at the Wankhede.. Great initiative by @BCCI @BCCIWomen to have this women’s game ahead of the first qualifier. Now warming up for at five! – There’ll be a lot of yellow around I’m guessing .. @rpsingh

Jhulan Goswami@JhulanG10

Supernova’s vs Trailblazer’s, nerves of steel & a great game of cricket. International stars of Women’s cricket put up a great show of sporting sprit and skill. Enjoyed every bit of the experience yesterday. With my teammates @ahealy77 . Thank you

Alyssa Healy

@ahealy77

Whirlwind trip to India but wow what an experience playing in . Hopefully the start of something special in the future!
Enjoyed playing with and against some legends!!

Ellyse Perry

@EllysePerry

Cannot leave India without a selfie! Great to get to know all these guys a little better. Hopefully see you all again soon✌🏼 @IPL

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Sophie Devine

@sophdevine77

How cool was that?! Humbled to play with and against so many fantastic cricketers in what will hopefully be the start of something massive for the women’s game.

We don’t quite know what’s going on here. Want to try and guess?

Lord’s Cricket Ground

@HomeOfCricket

📸 The @englandcricket players play their part in preparation for tomorrow by carrying the Long Room chairs back to the Pavilion!

 


Sports

AB – superhuman or spiderman?

AB – superhuman or spiderman?

As with any feat of brilliance or simply anything that AB de Villiers does, social media and the cricketing world on Friday (May 18) were amazed by the South African’s inhuman fielding effort that helped Royal Challengers Bangalore secure a thrilling win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Just AB being AB, we guess.

Kumar Sangakkara

@KumarSanga2

Incredible. But then it’s @ABdeVilliers17

Virat Kohli

@imVkohli

Saw #SpiderMan Live today! 😮@abdevilliers17#RCBvsSRH #IPL2018

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The Cricketer

@TheCricketerMag

Ffffruurrpppoiewhuyergfuiewbfdkhjbv.

Sorry about that, have just been sick all over the keyboard. That was a nauseatingly-superb grab from AB. Bravo, sir.

Sarah Taylor

@Sarah_Taylor30

What have I just seen…..👀

The Cricketer

@TheCricketerMag

Ffffruurrpppoiewhuyergfuiewbfdkhjbv.

Sorry about that, have just been sick all over the keyboard. That was a nauseatingly-superb grab from AB. Bravo, sir. #IPL2018 #RCBvSRH #RCB

Jonty Rhodes

@JontyRhodes8

Just seen the replay of that catch; What the Duck was that @vikramsathaye @ABdeVilliers17

Mitchell McClenaghan

@Mitch_Savage

Can’t keep ABD out of the game… wow!

Other notable mentions in the classic encounter at the Chinnaswamy were Moeen Ali, Rashid Khan and of course, Kane Williamson.

Manish Pandey

@im_manishpandey

Another classic game last night, unfortunate to have fallen short !!! Batting of the highest Quality from both teams & to top it off Blinders by SuperMan @ABdeVilliers17 & our very own Magician @rashidkhan_19 👏👏👏

Rohit Sharma

@ImRo45

T20 cricket isn’t just about power, it’s also about being smart and playing to your strengths and Williamson is doing exactly that

Harsha Bhogle

@bhogleharsha

Always been a fan of Kane Williamson, the test batsman and captain. But to see him raise his game in T20 through this has been an experience to watch

Michael Vaughan

@MichaelVaughan

Still don’t think the teams realise how good many of England’s players are at the White ball game these days … RR took along time to Open with @josbuttler … RCB took forever to get Mo Ali in the team … Many more could have a huge impact …

The best catch ever? There might be some dispute over that.

Brydon Coverdale

@brydoncoverdale

The de Villiers catch is great, but it was let down by the lack of Bill Lawry going ballistic on commentary like this one from Adam Dale.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO2Y1vkpyNc 

And we thank the stars, the universe and everything for this every day!

Theena K@KTheena

Said it before, will say it again: thank god AB chose cricket over the countless other sports he could have excelled at. I have never seen a more gifted, purer athlete in the men’s cricket circuit. Hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, agility, brains. Complete.

Putting Bangalore’s qualification hopes in another light.

Gaurav Kalra

@gauravkalra75

So at 4pm tomorrow both B S Yeddyurappa & Virat Kohli have to face knockout situations

Kumar Sangakkara ended up running into Sathish Sivalingam, the Indian CWG weightlifting gold medalist.

sathish kumar sivalingam oly@imsathisholy

It was a pleasure meeting to you sir @KumarSanga2 wen we interact together, you told me i knew u sathish though the social media thats moments really i loved

sathish kumar sivalingam oly@imsathisholy

It was a pleasure meeting to you sir @KumarSanga2 wen we interact together, you told me i knew u sathish though the social media thats moments really i loved

Anil Kumble is spoiling us with his photography skills and this view!

Anil Kumble

@anilkumble1074

Beautiful Circle of Life! Depicts this city.

Birthday wishes go out to David Wiese and Sandeep Sharma.

Saurabh Malhotra

@MalhotraSaurabh

Many many happy returns of the day, @sandeep25a. God bless you 😊

Circle of Cricket

@circleofcricket

Team Circle of Cricket wishes a very Happy Birthday to our star, @sandeep25a. Have a great year on and off the field.

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ICC

@ICC

Happy birthday @sandeep25a! Re-live his 4/54 in the final in 2012 against Australia that helped India to their third title!

Harbhajan Turbanator

@harbhajan_singh

Happy birthday to the sandy @sandeep25a!🎉 Great to see you doing so well for your team, keep the ball swinging… God bless you.

Sussex Cricket

@SussexCCC

🇿🇦 High fives all round!

Happy Birthday, @David_Wiese! Have a good one! 🎁

Kudos also poured in for Shelley Nitschke, who was named the assistant coach of the Australian women’s team.

Lisa Sthalekar

@sthalekar93

You little ripper. So happy for Shelley Nitschke, assistant coach of @SouthernStars. Loved playing with her in Aussie colours and know she will bring that same passion, drive & skill to the players. Perfect appointment @CricketAus 👏🏽👏🏽👌🏽

Alex Blackwell

@AlexBlackwell2

Congrats Shelley! Great cricketer, great person, no doubt Shell will thrive in this new role. I hope she will still have time to go surfing with me?!!

Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏

@SouthernStars

The great Shelley Nitschke has been appointed full-time Australia assistant coach for the next two years! Congrats, Shell: https://www.cricket.com.au/news/shelley-nitschke-australia-women-assistant-coach-southern-stars-matthew-mott/2018-05-18 

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Mel ‘MJ’ Jones

@meljones_33

Watched how she went about things in the recent India tour, heard how the players talked about her and know how she played the game. Brilliant appointment which will help the @SouthernStars build on their successful legacy.

Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏

@SouthernStars

The great Shelley Nitschke has been appointed full-time Australia assistant coach for the next two years! Congrats, Shell: https://www.cricket.com.au/news/shelley-nitschke-australia-women-assistant-coach-southern-stars-matthew-mott/2018-05-18 

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Tim Nielsen@nielsen514

Australian cricket can only benefit from Shelley’s knowledge and passion. Great appointment

SA Scorpions

@ScorpionsSA

Super proud of Scorps and Australian cricket legend Shelley Nitschke, who has been appointed @SouthernStars Assistant Coach! 🇦🇺 👏

More ➡ http://bit.ly/2wS7nTN 

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AdelaideStrikersWBBL

@StrikersWBBL

Huge congrats to former player and current Strikers @WBBL Assistant Coach Shelley Nitschke, who has been appointed @SouthernStars Assistant Coach! 👏

📰: http://bit.ly/2rXdxN1