Faf: Results should calm transformation hysteria

Stand-in South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis believes the series whitewash against Australia will go a long way towards calming the transformation hysteria that has gripped the nation’s cricket fans.
Since the introduction of the new targets, which require national team to field a minimum of six non-white players on average, including two black Africans over the course of a season in September South Africa have won six consecutive ODIs.
Du Plessis said: “People will relax now and see that it’s not that bad. People were expecting big changes and big defeats, but now, people can relax and see there is enough talent, no matter what colour you are.
“Our cricket is in a healthy state. People can be confident that even with those targets, we are a force to be reckoned with.”
The fears have been that the targets would pose selection conundrums unnecessarily but the return to form of JP Duminy and emergence of talents such as Andile Phehlukwayo and Tabraiz Shamsi leaves the Proteas with tremendous depth and versatility, particularly in the ODI arena.
For a long time Cricket South Africa has had transformation on the agenda but no transparent targets and the skipper is happy that players now know what the score is regarding so-called quotas.
Du Plessis continued: “We try and embrace it. The positive is that it is open and there is a honest policy out there. Everyone knows what it’s all about and everyone can buy into it. As long as you are open and honest, you can move forward.”
The series whiteash against Australia has helped lift some of the pressure on coach Russell Domingo and Du Plessis gave credit to the boss for his resilience.
The skipper went on: “As a squad, we made a huge transition when we went away and had a hard look at ourselves, and the coaches were part of it.
“They were really eager to try and improve themselves, and since that day, they have been brilliant. Russell has stepped his game up, he is challenging people and players now, and the coaching staff are demanding more from players.
“It’s important we don’t take that for granted because we have an extremely tough Test tour of Australia coming up. I accept that we won’t win every series, but it’s important for us to know what we need to do to be at our best. Russell has been really good.
“There was a lot of pressure on them after the West Indies tri-series and that’s normal. You get that when a team doesn’t perform, but full credit must go to him for how he has stepped up.”
South Africa now face the challenge of correcting their status in Test cricket with a series away against Australia preceding a series at home against Sri Lanka.
Latest
-
News
Jake Libby earns draw as Somerset, Hampshire and Gloucestershire open with wins
Worcestershire opener Libby made the second-longest Championship innings ever and was on the field for every ball of the match.
-
News
Jofra Archer to find out whether he could feature in IPL next week
Archer has already been ruled out of the initial stages of the tournament after undergoing surgery to remove glass from his finger last month.
-
News
Stuart Broad would support social media boycott as racist abuse continues online
Some football teams and players have taken a break from social media.
-
News
Snow hits Glamorgan hopes as Rory Burns and Ben Foakes shine for Surrey
Burns made 74 and England team-mate Foakes an unbeaten 81 for Surrey against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
-
News
ICC Player of the Month nominations for March announced
Winners of the player of the month awards will be announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC’s digital channels.
-
News
Billy Root overshadows brother Joe as England captain suffers against Glamorgan
The visitors closed the second day with the upper hand at Headingley.
-
News
Sadiq Khan hoping to attract future IPL matches to London
London has staged NFL, MLB and NBA matches in London in the past and the London Mayor hopes IPL matches can also be staged in the capital.
-
News
Dan Lawrence shows early touch as Essex start strongly in Championship
There were big hundreds for Sam Robson, Tom Haines and James Vince.
-
News
Sachin Tendulkar thanks medical staff after returning home from hospital
Tendulkar was admitted to hospital last week after revealing he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been in quarantine at home.
-
News
New Zealand name squad for their Test tour of England
New Zealand have named a 20-player squad for their tour of England, with three uncapped prospects in the group.