South Africa v Australia: Faf du Plessis quits as Test, T20 skipper, Quinton de Kock to replace him
South Africa will be under new leadership for their T20 and ODI series against Australia after Faf du Plessis resigned all captaincy duties. And the new man in charge has previous with David Warner.
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The man at the centre of the infamous stairwell confrontation with David Warner will be the first man through the gate against Australia this week.
Feisty wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock is set to be appointed the new captain of South Africa, after Faf du Plessis announced he was stepping down as Proteas skipper, although he will continue playing in the side.
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The changing of the guard adds another spicy flavour to the return of Warner and Steve Smith to the scene of Sandpapergate later this week, as they prepare to step back onto South African soil for the first time in a tour of Twenty20 and one-day internationals.
When de Kock attacked Warner with a vile sledge about his wife, Candice in the first Test of 2018, it sparked a near physical confrontation between the pair, where they had to be separated by teammates, including du Plessis, who was only wearing a towel.
The ugly incident, as well as the fact South African staff were suspected of leaking the footage, was responsible for relations plummeting between the two teams to a toxic level, and contributed – at least in some way – to the Australians’ sandpaper brain explosion at Cape Town in the third Test.
Former England star Kevin Pietersen has previously poked fun at de Kock in cricket commentary for not being the sharpest tool in the shed, but Australian captain Aaron Finch believes his adversary will make a good skipper.
“He is someone who reads the game really well and loves getting around the team and encouraging and motivating,” said Finch.
“Your No.1 job as an opening batter and wicketkeeper is to do your own job really well and once you do that, it’s easier to get everyone else on board and pulling in one direction,” said Finch.
“He is someone who naturally people would gravitate to and follow his direction if he keeps performing the way that he does.”
The decision by du Plessis to step down as Proteas captain represents the end of an era – with the 35-year-old one of Australia’s greatest modern adversaries.
Not only did du Plessis lead the side that helped inflict Australia’s sandpaper misery, but he has been in charge of some other famous triumphs over South Africa’s great cricketing enemy.
Du Plessis also oversaw another Australian meltdown in the summer of 2016-17, when the hosts were humiliated in a series-defeat at Hobart that resulted in five changes being made for the next Test.
Although on that same tour, he was himself busted for ball tampering, in what became known as mint-gate.
Against Australia, du Plessis has averaged nearly 50, compared to his career average of 42 across all forms. He has made eight of his 22 career centuries against the Australians.
“This was one of the toughest decisions to make, but I remain fully committed to supporting Quinton, Mark [Boucher] and my team-mates as we continue to rebuild and realign as a group,” du Plessis said in a statement.
“South African cricket has entered a new era. New leadership, new faces, new challenges and new strategies. I remain committed to play in all three formats of the game for now as a player, and will offer my knowledge and time to the new leaders of the team.
“I have strived to lead the team with dignity and authenticity during exhilarating highs and devastating lows. I have given my everything during my tenure.”
Squad: Quinton de Kock (capt), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen.