Mitchell Johnson names AB de Villiers as the toughest batsman to bowl against

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who recently retired from international cricket, has named world’s number one batsman AB de Villiers as the most difficult batsman to bowl against.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who recently retired from international cricket, has named world’s number one batsman AB de Villiers as the most difficult batsman to bowl against. According to a Cricket Australia report, Johnson has described de Villiers as the most ‘outstanding player’ of his generation, saying it was always a challenge to turn up against the South African batting maestro.

Johnson, who retired from the game after the second Test against New Zealand, recalled his famous encounter with him, saying, “I remember the game at Centurion (in 2014) and I’d got a few quick wickets in that game and he came out to bat and looked so calm and composed and just played his natural game. It really is difficult when someone does come out like that and you’re on top of your game. But it really is a great challenge and he’s been one of the best players I’ve played against.”

Johnson’s retirement caps off a difficult year for Australia when it lost quite a few Test cricketers like Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Chris Rogers, Ryan Harris and Shane Watson to retirement. De Villiers on the other hand is going strong and recently completed his 100th Test, scoring 85 runs in the rain-marred second Test against India at Bangalore.