AB de Villiers: ?I felt sorry for the Australians, especially Steve Smith?

From David Warner?s stairwell fracas with Quinton de Kock ? in response to a crude sledge about his wife ? to Nathan Lyon throwing the ball on to De Villiers in disrespectful celebration after a run-out, and Kagiso Rabada?s shoulder contact with Steve Smith, the controversies kept coming. Jeff Crowe described the series as the worst he had seen in 14 years as a match referee. De Villiers says: ?It was seriously tough cricket but that?s how Tests should be played. There was all this talk about ?the line? and you don?t want to get too personal. But letting a player know there is a series on the line and he is about to lose it for his country, that is part of the game. That?s what we did.?I felt they got quite personal. Although we had an instance in Durban where one of our players [De Kock] did too ... that?s a long story. But overall, I loved the toughness of the cricket played. It?s just the rest that was uncalled for.?Was De Villiers, during the Lyon incident in Durban, aware of what the spinner had done as he slid towards the crease in vain? ?I was. It was a big moment for them in that first Test because I was in good form. I got a text from Lyon afterwards apologising and, look, he?s not a nasty guy, so I took no offence. It wasn?t a good look for cricket but personally? It didn?t mean a lot.??I had been in a bad place and needed the time away. It?s difficult to explain and probably others wouldn?t understand but everyone?s story is different. Playing for 14 years, having a family, saying goodbye for months ? I struggled.?I just wanted to get away from it all. It?s the entertainment business and people push you up on a pedestal like a hero but I just wanted to be with my family and be normal. I needed a few months to enjoy the basics of life.?Since we spoke, the man they call Mr 360 for his array of shots has lit up the IPL. His 90 not out against Dehli had him hailed as ?the best in the world? by Virat Kohli before an electric 68 from 30 balls against Chennai had the big screen screaming: ?AB DELIVERS.?