Australia v South Africa 2nd ODI: Skipper Faf du Plessis demands Proteas continue Aussie misery
FAF du Plessis has ordered South Africa to keep the foot on Australia’s throat – targeting a soft batting underbelly that has been badly exposed without banned Steve Smith and David Warner.
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FAF du Plessis has ordered South Africa to keep the foot on Australia’s throat – targeting a soft batting underbelly without banned Steve Smith and David Warner.
Two years on from his own ball tampering infamy, du Plessis says wiping the floor with Aaron Finch’s rebuilding unit and extending their record losing streak is imperative.
Smith and Warner were the only Aussie batsmen South Africa feared but that is no longer a problem for an attack led by evergreen Dale Steyn.
“If you do get an opportunity against Australia where you can put your foot on the gas, it’s really important to try and do that because it’s not often you get those opportunities,’ said du Plessis.
“Obviously from a results point of view, there is a bit of pressure on their batting line-up to score runs.”
Australia’s brittle batting was exposed when skittled for 152 in 38.1 overs in Perth last Sunday.
“The two batters that they have lost in Smith and Warner is huge for them,” said du Plessis.
“We always felt in the past when we played them, if you get those two cheaply that you could put real pressure on the rest of the batting line-up, therefore they do leave big holes.”
Australia has lost 17 of 19 one-day games while 31 players have been churned in 20 one-day games. Justin Langer’s men are sixth in ICC rankings just seven months from their World Cup defence in England.
Du Plessis acknowledged the irony of his last visit to favourite ground Adelaide at the height of ‘Mint-gate’ in 2016.
Du Plessis made an unbeaten ton (118) after being fined for ball-tampering in the preceding Hobart Test.
“There was a lot of build-up towards that Test match with the Mint-gate,” du Plessis said.
“There was a lot of eyes on me. It was more my character that was tested through that week.”
Du Plessis maintains that year long, Cricket Australia-imposed ball tampering bans on Smith and Warner for actions last March in Cape Town were excessive.
“Initially when it happened, we thought that it was harsh on the players because there have been so many players that have been in similar boats,” he said.
For all his on-field bravado – which started here with match saving knocks of 78 and 110 not out on debut six years ago – du Plessis takes no enjoyment from Australia’s cricket cultural crisis.
“It’s never nice when it carries on for so long,” du Plessis said.
“I think everyone in their camp would just like to start afresh now and make sure they can focus on the cricket.”
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