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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town - A modest 15 runs against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Kingsmead from Boxing Day will see AB de Villiers reach the personal landmark of 5 000 runs in the format.
Achievement of that objective in Durban will also see him earn a place on the “podium” as third-fastest South African batsman to reach that figure.
De Villiers currently boasts 4 985 Test runs (average 47.93) from 69 appearances and 117 knocks.
Ahead of him among fellow-South Africans for stealth to 5 000 runs are only Herschelle Gibbs, now out of the Test picture and a “super freelancer” in Twenty20 cricket, and his captain Graeme Smith.
Gibbs got to the milestone from 108 innings and in his 63rd Test, placing him 22nd on the overall list, with Smith not far behind in 25th overall, having got there in 111 knocks and also in 63 Tests.
Top of the pile, almost needless to say, is the incomparable Australian Don Bradman - he needed only 56 innings and 36 Tests to achieve the 5000-mark against old enemies England at Headingley in 1938.
The fastest South African-born player to the landmark is Kevin Pietersen, 19th overall, although his 5 000 obviously came in England colours: 107 innings and 60 Tests.
Jacques Kallis is presently third best South African (120 innings and 73 Tests) but almost certain to be overtaken by De Villiers who has three innings in hand on his team-mate to knock off the required 15 runs and get to 5 000.
The Titans stroke-player is in decent form, too, with his last three Test innings being 99 against the Lankans at Centurion, and 64 and 73 against Australia at the Wanderers.
Cape Town - A modest 15 runs against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Kingsmead from Boxing Day will see AB de Villiers reach the personal landmark of 5 000 runs in the format.
Achievement of that objective in Durban will also see him earn a place on the “podium” as third-fastest South African batsman to reach that figure.
De Villiers currently boasts 4 985 Test runs (average 47.93) from 69 appearances and 117 knocks.
Ahead of him among fellow-South Africans for stealth to 5 000 runs are only Herschelle Gibbs, now out of the Test picture and a “super freelancer” in Twenty20 cricket, and his captain Graeme Smith.
Gibbs got to the milestone from 108 innings and in his 63rd Test, placing him 22nd on the overall list, with Smith not far behind in 25th overall, having got there in 111 knocks and also in 63 Tests.
Top of the pile, almost needless to say, is the incomparable Australian Don Bradman - he needed only 56 innings and 36 Tests to achieve the 5000-mark against old enemies England at Headingley in 1938.
The fastest South African-born player to the landmark is Kevin Pietersen, 19th overall, although his 5 000 obviously came in England colours: 107 innings and 60 Tests.
Jacques Kallis is presently third best South African (120 innings and 73 Tests) but almost certain to be overtaken by De Villiers who has three innings in hand on his team-mate to knock off the required 15 runs and get to 5 000.
The Titans stroke-player is in decent form, too, with his last three Test innings being 99 against the Lankans at Centurion, and 64 and 73 against Australia at the Wanderers.
