CAPTAIN’S CALL AFTER WHITEWASH
Skipper Du Plessis not in favour of batting changes
Wilting Proteas’ Faf du Plessis bats on beaten and battered lineup to improve
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes it would be premature to bring fresh faces into the SA top-order batting lineup following the historic 2-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka.
Addressing the media after being thumped by eight wickets in the second Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, Du Plessis first said there was a bit more to it than making wholesale changes.
Social media erupted with criticism of the Proteas’ top order with most calling for the heads of Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma.
But Du Plessis called for cool heads.
“It’s difficult to say. You’re talking about a top order that is experienced. You are talking about guys, such as Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla. Talking about them to be replaced is a big call. Those guys are good players. They’ve done well for a very long time,” said Du Plessis.
“One series doesn’t make you a bad player. If it happens over two or three or four series, yes, then of course. Every single player in the team needs to perform. But if you play for a long time, you’re almost allowed to have one bad series. But if it happens over a period of time, of course we will look at it.”
There have been calls for consistent domestic performers, such as Eddie Moore (Warriors), Pieter Malan (Cobras) and Keegan Petersen (Knights), to be given a chance.
“I can also tell you that it’s not easy walking from domestic cricket and performing,” Du Plessis stressed.
“Theunis de Bruyn is the next best batter in the country who has been waiting for a while and [Zubayr] Hamza is the other guy – if you take their records it's not better than Dean Elgar or Hashim Amla or myself.
“It’s always easy to say when those guys are not performing to get new faces in. But it doesn’t always happen like that. It’s Test cricket and it’s supposed to be harder. But in this series, our top order did not score the amount of runs they should have against an attack which we should have done better.”
On Friday, South Africa batting coach Dale Benkenstein said the team had been complacent heading into the series against Sri Lanka.
A day later, head coach Ottis Gibson told media in the postmatch press conference he disagreed.
“You know, I saw a headline today that said we were complacent and I don’t agree with that at all because I think that we prepared for this Test series exactly the way that we prepared for every other Test series,” Gibson said.
“We have our meetings, we do our tactical stuff, we do our video analysis. Sri Lanka had some new guys that we needed to get some intel on and we looked at that. They came here with very little to lose and played very well.
“Knowing what we wanted to achieve in terms of Test cricket for the summer in winning five Tests matches, we weren’t good enough in these two.”
Gibson doubted whether the result of the Test series would have dented the confidence of those playing for spots at the ICC World Cup in England and Wales, starting at the end of May.
“I don’t think that should be the case and I don’t think it is. Not everybody that is in this squad is vying for a World Cup place. Some of the guys here . . . their minds should have been fixed on doing very well here, especially after the fact that we lost in Durban. But, I don’t believe that the World Cup has any real significance in how we performed this week.”
The teams now shift into oneday international mode with the first of five matches being contested in Johannesburg on Sunday. ●
One series doesn’t make you a bad player.
If it happens over two or three or four series, yes
Sri Lankan politicians, cricket legends and newspapers were gushing praise on Sunday after the national team’s “unthinkable” series triumph against South Africa.
The depleted Sri Lankan side, led by interim captain Dimuth Karunaratne, won the two-Test series at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Saturday in a stunning performance.
“First Asian nation to win a series in South Africa,” said the Sunday Island in banner headlines. The Sunday Times of Colombo called the national team “conquerors” for snatching an unexpected series win.
“Rookie Lankans silence critics,” said the Sunday Morning weekly.
Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were quick to hail the team’s rare success.
Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara noted they had been under pressure both on and off field.
“Congratulations for achieving what no other Sri Lankan team has ever come close to. Huge character shown by all concerned with the team, coaching staff and management having been under tremendous pressure. A team effort for the ages. Keep believing and keep fighting,” Sangakkara said on Twitter.
Sri Lanka went in for the series without a single win since October.
They arrived in SA after two heavy Test defeats in Australia, which led to Dinesh Chandimal being fired as captain, coach Chandika Hathurusingha having his powers curtailed and major changes in personnel, some caused by injuries.
Sri Lanka’s series win was one of the biggest upsets in recent cricket history.
South Africa had won their previous seven series at home and had won 16 out of 19 home Tests, with only two defeats, before losing in Durban. –