AB de Villiers. Pic/AFP

AB de Villiers said he felt that he needed to prove he was still worth his place in the South African team, after continuing his return to Test cricket with a match-changing hundred against Australia. De Villiers made a magnificent 126 not out and took South Africa to a likely series-levelling position on the third day of the second Test against Australia at St George's Park on Sunday. After taking a first-innings lead of 139, South Africa reduced Australia to 180 for five at the close, a slender lead of 41 with only five wickets remaining. "I was very motivated to prove that I can still play this game," said De Villiers, whose performance was described by his former captain Graeme Smith as "one of the great Test innings". De Villiers did not play Test cricket between January 2016 and December 2017, after he decided he needed time away from the game. "I was very motivated to prove to everyone that I can still play the game, even though I have been away for a while," he said.