5 times AB de Villiers the tormentor turned protector

South African ace AB de Villiers has constructed a remarkable career filled with a relentless pursuit of greatness and a unique combination of longevity and consistency. In whites, He turned up for his country a record 98 matches in a row(the record has since been eclipsed by Brendon McCullum), before finally missing a test. Throughout his career, he was often the tormentor of attacks and the fear he instilled even in great bowlers like Mitchell Johnson and his own South African teammate Dale Steyn, has been well documented.

So it is hard to believe that there have been multiple occasions where the belligerent batsman has shelved his natural strokeplay for the team's cause and put on an admirable display of grit and patience. Here are 5 such instances when De Villiers the tormentor turned into De Villiers the protector!

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#1 33 off 220 balls vs Australia, Adelaide 2012

The match is better remembered for Faf Du Plessis's remarkable test debut where his gritty century in the second innings helped South Africa draw the match from a precarious position.

But what people tend to forget is that AB de Villiers was actually part of the initial resistance where he, along with Du Plessis, shared a partnership of 89 runs in 68 overs. De Villiers batted for 220 balls and didn't even hit a boundary! He scored 33 runs at a strike rate of 15, a figure that fans around the world wouldn't associate with the star batsman.

His effort along, with Du Plessis's epic 4th innings 100 and an injured Kallis's gritty resistance, helped saved the match for South Africa who were once staring down the barrel at 45/4 and still had to bat 120 overs to salvage the match.

#2 43 off 228 balls vs Australia, Cape Town 2014

Test series between South Africa and Australia have always been ultra-competitive and it was no different this time. Heading into the third match, the series was tied at 1-1 and the winner would take home what was a highly charged up series.

Australia dominated the match and after setting South Africa an improbable target of 510 runs, had them on the mat at 71/4 at stumps on day 4. Could South Africa conjure up an Adelaide? Could they save the series and give their retiring captain Graeme Smith a well-deserved farewell?

Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plessis and JP Duminy resisted briefly while Vernon Philander made an enterprising fifty, but it was De Villiers's 228 ball 43 which was the most intriguing innings of the day. He didn't play one rash shot and it was an innings which manifested his resilient character.

He could have saved the day for South Africa but a Ryan Harris peach had him caught behind at 43 after batting more than 5 hours.

#3 43 off 297 balls vs India, Delhi 2015

South Africa have always raised their levels whenever they have faced a subcontinent team in their own backyard. Before 2015, in their last two visits to India, in 2008 and 2010, they had drawn both the series 1-1. Coming to India in 2015, South Africa had a nine-year undefeated streak in overseas test series. They had their number one ranking and a proud overseas record to defend.

Three matches down, South Africa were trampled left, right and centre and baring AB de Villiers, none of the batsmen had stood up. It was turning out to be a disastrous tour. Heading into Delhi, South Africa were mentally fatigued. Could they salvage pride in the last match?

They were battered in the first innings, and India set them an imposing target of 480 runs. South Africa had crossed 200 only once in the whole series and thus it looked like a humbling defeat was in prospect once again.

Then began a stonewalling for the ages.The blockathon was started by Amla and then carried by Du Plessis but its greatest exponent that day was De Villiers. The usually belligerent batsman didn't even feel the urge to smash the ball even when nine fielders were inside the circle.

South Africa consistently scored at less than a run per over and at tea on Day 5, they were 136-6 after already having batted a staggering 139 overs. De Villiers was on 43 off 296 balls.

Could he help salvage a scarcely believable draw for South Africa?

Unfortunately, the first ball that De Villiers played after tea spun viciously at him and he was caught at short leg. The great South African resistance was over and soon the innings unravelled, handing India a series victory.

#4 106* off 186 balls vs Australia, Perth 2008

Back on a sunny day in 2008, during the first test of South Africa's tour of Australia, when Australia set the visitors a commanding target of 414 runs, little did they know what was to befall them.

South Africa were at 179/3 when a 24-year-old De Villiers came into bat. They were still 235 runs behind the target, and one bad shot could be the catalyst behind a typical 4th innings collapse.

Riding a few tense moments early, when Brett Lee was steaming in, De Villiers looked more and more focused as the innings wore on. It was a big target, though the pitch wasn't behaving too badly. It was all about staying at the wicket for long hours.

Did De Villiers have the mental courage to bat long on a Day 5 pitch, and help secure South Africa a stunning victory?

During the course of his innings, cricket pundits over the globe declared that this innings could be a turning point in his career. De Villiers steadied himself for the long haul and didn't play one out of character shot for the entirety of his 276-minute knock.

He crafted a well made century and South Africa chased down 414, the 2nd highest successful chase of all time in Test Cricket. This was one of the innings which catapulted De Villiers into stardom, and he hasn't looked back ever since.

#5 52* off 92 balls vs England, Durban 2004

The England tour of South Africa in 2004 saw the debuts of two South African legends - Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers! While Dale Steyn took some time to settle into the national set-up, De Villiers was in the thick of things right from his 2nd test match.

The second test of the tour was a pendulum of swinging fortunes as England, after conceding a deficit of 193 runs in the first innings, stormed back into the match by making 570 runs in the 2nd innings before declaring and setting South Africa a strong target of 378 runs.

South Africa were tottering at 173/6 when De Villiers entered the scene. He saw his team reduced to 183/7 and the hosts still had to bat 30 more overs to salvage a draw. Would it be too much to ask of 20-year-old De Villiers, who was playing just his 2nd test match? Will the inexperience be exposed?

De Villiers batted purposely and didn't panic. He found an able partner in veteran Shaun Pollock and they steered South Africa to safety by batting for 162 balls. South Africa escaped with a draw and they had De Villiers's 95-ball 52 at to be grateful for.

As it turned out, this was just the sign of things to come as De Villiers would go on to make and break innumerable records for South Africa and stake his claim as arguably the best batsman of the world.