AB de Villiers is number one batsman today: Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee was the first to break the 400-wicket barrier in Test cricket and set the benchmark for others with a total of 431 wickets in 86 Test matches. His contemporary and India’s former skipper Kapil Dev (434) eventually broke the record while the other top all-rounders at that time, Ian Botham and Imran Khan, finished their Test careers on 383 and 362 wickets respectively.

“Kapil, Imran and Botham were good all-rounders and we had a fierce competition. Those days we used to follow each other’s performances through newspapers or radio reports. I broke Botham’s record in India and later took my 400th victim in the form of Sanjay Manjrekar. I also have fond memories of Wankhede Stadium were we won the Test match,” said the former Kiwi all-rounder who was here as special ambassador to promote New Zealand’s South Island.

“Though Kapil and Botham were outstanding all-rounders, I maintain that Imran had an edge as he was a versatile batsman and a potent strike bowler who could swing at good pace early on and later get reverse swing,” he recollected.

Hadlee felt that same competition is on in the current era between the batting quartet of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson.

“Those four players are outstanding batsman and a joy to watch. To me A.B. de Villiers is the number one batsman in the world today in all formats all the game in terms of innovative and creative play. All of them can make impact on their day. They are all a pleasure to watch.”

The Kiwi legend also predicted that Williamson would break all Kiwi batting records and prove the right replacement for Brendon McCullum.

“He without doubt will be our best ever batsman. Captaincy or not, he is going to do some wonderful things in the game and players will enjoy playing under him and what we can see at early stages, he is in control,” he said.

“Brendon played an outstanding brand of attacking cricket. Williamson will do the same but in a different style. He will play attacking cricket in his own way,” he added.

Hadlee, regarded as best swing bowler in his time, peaked in the later half of his illustrious career that finished at the age of 39 and like him current top swing bowler James Anderson also has peaked late in his career.