Captain courageous

TAKE a bow Faf du Plessis, your country salutes you. In the face of great adversity you have displayed the courage and skill of the bravest of warriors. With Du Plessis’s ears stinging with the sound of boos from a spirited Adelaide Oval crowd – which eventually grew to 32 255 – when he got to the crease, the South African captain managed to fashion an unbeaten 118 of the highest class which has given this Proteas team a real chance in this third and final Test.

It was the perfect riposte to an Australian public and media who have spent the past week labelling him a cheat before and after he was fined for ball-tampering.

Du Plessis admitted the jeers further inspired him after a week in which his integrity was placed under intense scrutiny. The fact that the skipper’s century ensured the Proteas posted 259/9 declared after being in trouble on 44/3 and later 117/5, added more gravitas to an innings that Du Plessis hailed as “my best ever”.

“I was extremely motivated today and that possibly helped me a little bit more‚” Du Plessis said. He also still had the presence of mind to insert Australia late in the day’s play since he knew that Australian opener David Warner had been off injured for a while and that the hosts’ batting order would have to be rejigged.

“It was just a little thing to take them out of their comfort zone,” Du Plessis said.