Du Plessis appreciating life at number three
Batsman Faf du Plessis is looking forward to cementing the number three position, come South Africa's second ODI against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Batsman Faf du Plessis is looking forward to cementing the number three position, come South Africa's second ODI against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Du Plessis has spent the bulk of a promising limited-overs career in the middle order, but the retirement of all-rounder Jacques Kallis has brought a promotion. The decision, too, was warranted in the series opener last week.
Du Plessis scored a key half-century, superbly complementing openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock's respective ton and half-ton en route to a convincing 93-run triumph.
"I have played most of my cricket at number five, six and seven, but I think if it was up to me I would choose the number three position. It allows me to play my game plan and it's also suits the team as well," said du Plessis.
"I think we have some exciting stroke players and number three is a position that gels everyone together. With AB de Villiers coming in at four, JP Duminy at five and David Miller at six, it allows me to set up a good foundation for them."
The Proteas currently occupy fourth position in the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings, behind Australia, India and Sri Lanka. The Zimbabweans, meanwhile, are 10th – above only Afghanistan and Ireland.
"For us it's important not to focus on the opposition. We want to be number one in the world, we have high standards for ourselves as a group. We are number one in Test cricket and we want to get to that top spot in ODIs," added du Plessis.
"To get there it means you have to be as professional as possible at all times, we aren't taking Zimbabwe lightly at all."
Latest
-
NewsEngland’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.
-
NewsProteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
NewsSmith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
NewsEngland warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
NewsJack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
NewsJonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
NewsHeather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
NewsClaire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
NewsPooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
NewsAndrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.