De Villiers looks back fondly on career on the eve of his 100th Test match
South Africa’s AB de Villiers, who is all set to play his 100th Test match when his side takes on India in the second Test which begins on Saturday at Bangalore, looked back fondly on his career in the longer format so far, IBNLive reports.
Recalling his most memorable matches, De Villiers chose to put his team ahead of any individual performances despite boasting an average of above 50 in his 99 Tests so far. The 31-year-old, who admitted that playing the landmark Test in Bangalore, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium where he turns out Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL would be a special feeling, insists that he is solely focussed of making a comeback in the ongoing Test series against India.
"I'd like us to win this Test. That's the only focus I have at the moment. I know it's my 100th Test match. My current form ... people are comparing me to other players, but all I really want is for us to win games of cricket," De Villiers said.
"My mind goes to a lot of series victories away from home - a couple of times in England, couple of times in Australia. We've had a few good Test series here -- haven't won it yet but a couple of draws which was big time against what people expected us to achieve.”
De Villiers further praised South Africa’s away Test record and said that he is extremely proud to be a member of such a good side.
"Lots of Test matches come to mind, obviously the Sri Lankan Test series win as well. Lots of away victories. At home, it's also special to play in front of your home crowd, but people don't expect you to do well away from home and we've had a really good record," he said.
"It tells a story about the character we have in the side, the resilience -- not only as a cricket team but a nation as well. Makes me very proud to have been part of a Test cricket team touring all over the world and winning games. We're in India now and it would be another good story to come back from this (with a win)."
Playing all kinds of sports while growing up shaped me into the cricketer I am today: De Villiers
De Villiers, much like his cricket career, excelled in sports like rugby, football, hockey and badminton while growing up before zooming in on cricket as the sport he wanted to make a career in. The explosive batsman said that the experience has helped him become a better cricketer.
"All kinds of sports while growing up shaped me into the cricketer I am today. I don't think I can turn my back on that. I played a lot of ball sports in a sports crazy family. Two older brothers that always kept me busy in the backyard with all kinds of games," de Villiers said. "My parents were never against me playing all kinds of sports. They always let me make my own decisions and that's a valuable lesson growing up. They allowed me to spread my wings and to do my own things. It was completely my own decision to go into cricket.”
"I think my dad would have liked me to be a doctor or to go to university and get a degree but he'll obviously be happy with where I am at the moment and the career I've chosen and what I've achieved with my cricket. Same with my mom, no pressure from her side. My family gave me a lot of opportunities to express my talent," he added.