The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the latest inductees into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame on October 16, 2024. Three legendary cricketers England's Alastair Cook, South Africa's AB de Villiers, and India's Neetu David were honored for their extraordinary contributions to the game. These icons, from both the men's and women's formats, have left an indelible mark on the sport.

Neetu David, one of India's finest spinners, joins the elite list of women cricketers recognized by the ICC. Known for her remarkable performance against England in 1995, where she took a stunning 8/53, David ranks as India's second-highest wicket-taker in women's ODI cricket with 141 wickets from 97 matches. Her skill, consistency, and impact over the years have been key in shaping Indian women's cricket.

Alastair Cook, regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in Test history, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Cook’s 12-year career redefined what it meant to be a Test opener, culminating in him becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Tests. Cook amassed over 12,000 Test runs, and even after his retirement in 2018, he remains among the top six Test run-scorers globally.

On receiving the accolade, Cook expressed his surprise: "It was a surprise, and certainly just when you read the list of people that you're joining, it's a great list to have joined. I feel very privileged." Reflecting on his career, Cook added, "Every time I pulled on the English shirt, I tried my best to be as good as I could be. I had the best 20 years playing cricket."

Cricket Mr 360 AB de Villiers, one of the most popular and versatile cricketers of all time, joins the esteemed ICC Hall of Fame alongside Cook and David. Known for his incredible ability to score runs all around the ground, de Villiers played international cricket for 14 years, accumulating over 20,000 runs and 47 centuries across formats. He finished his career with an astonishing average of over 50 in both Tests and ODIs.

Speaking on the honor, de Villiers acknowledged the team spirit in cricket: “Cricket is often described as an individual sport within a team game… but everyone who plays cricket understands it is, in spirit, a team game.” He credited his success to the support of his teammates and coaches over the years.