Du Plessis expecting a ‘nice and hostile’ reception Down Under

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis is expecting a “nice and hostile” reception from the Australian fans and media ahead of the limited-overs games Down Under.

It will be South Africa’s first tour to Australia since the infamous ball-tampering scandal in March which saw Aussie captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being suspended.

That tour will certainly be remembered for all the drama off the field as much on it after the Warner-Quinton de Kock stairwell incident, Kagiso Rabada being banned and then unbanned for a shoulder “barge” on Smith before it all came to a head at Newlands with sandpaper.

The Proteas skipper has also certainly not forgotten his team’s trip to Australia in 2016 when he himself was in a ball-tampering controversy in Hobart and #mintgate took over the tour..

Du Plessis is now expecting a backlash from the Australian public ahead of three ODIs and a one-off T20I.

ALSO READ: Duminy, Mulder face three months on the sidelines

The SA captain said: “It will be nice and hostile. The last two tours home and away, it’s certainly been very entertaining off the field. We are not expecting anything less.

“Zunaid our security officer has been working hard in the gym, he’s prepared for whatever lies ahead.

“It is a bit of a poker game as well. We expect them to try and unsettle us as a team when it comes to the media space, obviously with myself being at the forefront of it, but we see it as part and parcel of touring Australia.

“It’s definitely not an easy place to travel. The crowds do play their part, they’re like a 12th man. Your mental capabilities and strength is just as important as your skill.

“For a lot of the new guys it will be the first time where they field on the boundary and they hear just how good they are as human beings.”

Du Plessis also believes playing against Australia brings out the best in his team as the Proteas love the fiery nature of the contests.

He added: “Australia is our favourite team to play against, all the stuff that comes with playing them, on and off the field, I love that and I feel that brings the best out of us as a team and even us as South Africans, we love that fiery competition.”

The first of three ODIs between Australia and Proteas will take place in Perth on 4 November followed by matches in Adelaide and Hobart. The T20I will be played on 17 November on the Glod Coast.