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Cape Town - Legendary Proteas duo AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn have been named in Wisden's Top 5 cricketers of the decade.
The South African duo joined Australian batsman Steve Smith, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Australian women's all-rounder Ellyse Perry.
Steyn became the only specialist bowler to be named as one of the five Wisden cricketers of the decade.
The Proteas fast bowler entered the decade (2010) as the world's No 1 Test bowler and finished his red-ball cricket career in 2019.
In August, Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket, but is still available for the Proteas in limited overs cricket.
Steyn played 93 Tests for the Proteas - ending with 439 wickets - the most in the long format by a Proteas bowler.
"He entered the decade ranked as the No 1 Test bowler in the world and held on to that position for another four years... it's his feats in Test cricket for which he will be best remembered, and for the passion and skill with which he played the game. Tearing in relentlessly, eyes popping, veins bulging, stumps splattering," said Wisden writer, Jo Harman.
Meanwhile, De Villiers retired from all forms of international cricket in 2018, but still remains one of the most popular cricketers in the world.
De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 One-Day Internationals ODIs and 78 T20s for South Africa.
The 35-year-old retired with a Test average of 50.66 and an ODI average of 53.50.
De Villiers ended his career as the No 2 ODI ranked player in the world and as the second highest run-scorer behind Jacques Kallis with 9 577 runs.
"During his extended peak, he was able to do basically everything, and do it better than basically everyone else in the world. It's why the nickname 'Mr. 360' suits him perfectly," said Wisden writer, Ben Gardner.
Click HERE to read the Wisden article
- Compiled by Lynn Butler
