AB de Villiers reveals the top 5 Test cricketers he played against; one Pakistan cricketer included

Former South African middle-order batter AB de Villiers has picked the top 5 Test cricketers he played against in the newly released podcast Beard Before Cricket, hosted by two famous English cricketers, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

While AB was initially reluctant to answer the question, he later revealed the names of the former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, former English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif, and former Australian legendary spinner Shane Warne among his top four names.

Eventually, AB de Villiers named former legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar as his fifth pick. However, Rashid reminded AB that he missed taking his former RCB teammate Virat Kohli’s name. Ultimately, AB named Kohli as his sixth option.

"Kallis, Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Warne. Sachin with the crowds. Just the way he was acknowledged while walking out to bat. It was like a standstill moment. Beautiful the way he batted. Virat. Sorry. Sachin-Virat. That's why it's difficult to answer such questions," AB de Villiers said on the Beard Before Wicket podcast.

Also, AB was asked to reveal a few players who would be a part of his World XI team. The former South African has picked Sachin Tendulkar as captain and opener in his XI, while he named the likes of Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath in his World XI.

"It's a tough one that. I hate that question. Someone put me on the spot and I think I said Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting. The next minute the headlines in India were AB doesn't pick Sachin in his World XI. I'm like oh my gosh! You just rush through it. You have to be specific with the formats. Very difficult also to compare generations," he added.

"I'll have a fair idea of Sachin as captain, opening the batting. I'll be going back to my heroes, the Haydens, Pontings, Lara's, those guys. Kallis. Kallis would be my first pick. Best all-rounder of all time. Maybe even best cricketer of all time. It's arguable. Bowlers, you can have a lot of fun with. Warnes, McGraths. It's a tough one," he concluded. 

AB de Villiers played 114 Tests, amassing 8765 runs at an average of 50.66 with 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries, while his highest score was a 278-run unbeaten knock.

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