The term “consistency” is quite often used in the game of cricket. The ones who perfect the art of scoring runs on a regular basis are destined for greatness. Each and every team in international cricket must have relied on one batsman for runs.
Cricket is the only sport which is played in three different formats nowadays in international cricket. However, some batters have still gone on to excel in multiple formats and which is they were termed the best in the business.
Case in point, there were only three players to end the calendar year both as the No.1 Test and ODI batsman in the ICC rankings on two occasions. Now, let’s take a look at those three players below.
1. Sir Vivian Richards
Sir Vivian Richards is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time. He was one of the three batters to end a calendar year both as the No.1 Test and ODI batsman in ICC rankings on two occasions. The former West Indies cricketer achieved the feat in 1982 and 1986. He scored 8540 runs in the longest format and 6721 runs in ODIs.
2. AB de Villiers
South Africa’s batting great, AB de Villiers is another player on the list who finished the year both as the No.1 Test and ODI batter in the ICC rankings two times. He achieved the feat in 2013 and 2014. AB de Villiers scored 8765 runs in Tests and 9577 runs in One-Day Internationals.
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world across all three formats of the game. India’s run-scoring machine finished the year both as the numero uno batsman in the ICC Test and ODI rankings two times. He achieved the feat in 2018 and 2019. The former Indian captain scored 12,809 runs in ODIs and 8195 runs in the longest format of the game.
Batsman to end a year both as No.1 Test & ODI batsman in ICC rankings in two times:
•Sir Viv Richards (1982, 86).
•Ab De Villiers (2013, 14).
•Virat Kohli (2018, 19).— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 7, 2023
