Former South African captain AB de Villiers is a household name across the globe among cricket fans. The cricket that he played was unheard of. In his long international career, he established himself as a consistent feature in all formats of the game. Moving ahead we will take a look at AB de Villiers’s top 3 innings in Test cricket.
#1. 278* vs Pakistan, 2010
AB de Villiers achieved his best figures in Test cricket in the very early phase of his international career. He made this double century in Asian conditions in Abu Dhabi against a formidable Pakistan bowling unit. When South Africa played Pakistan in a 2-match Test series in 2010, de Villiers tried his best to win the series for South Africa. He scored an unbeaten 278 runs in the first innings of the second Test and built a crucial partnership with Jacques Kallis to guide South Africa to a comprehensive total at the end of the first innings.
#2. 217* vs India, 2008
Another double century in Asian conditions and this time in India, even tougher conditions to bat in. This knock came in a winning cause and de Villiers’s double century played a crucial role in South Africa’s dominating victory. In reply to India’s 76 runs in the first innings, the Proteas ended up with 494 runs in the first innings. He came out to bat at No.6 and stayed on the crease till the end. Courtesy of his knock South Africa earned a massive lead which eventually helped them win the match by an innings and 90 runs.
#3. 178 vs West Indies, 2005
Many of his centuries in Test cricket have come away from home which also is a testimony to his ability to shine in difficult conditions. This is also one of those centuries that he made in away conditions, against the West Indies. A young AB de Villiers led South Africa to a convincing victory in the West Indies by a margin of an innings and 86 runs. His 178 runs opening the innings with Graeme Smith made a huge difference in the game which later proved to be decisive.