Faf simply loves Adelaide Oval

FAF DU PLESSIS and the Adelaide Oval – it’s a rich history, colourful and controversial, between a player and a storied venue, that started with him nearly falling flat on his face in his first match there.

“I love coming to Adelaide it’s one of my favourite grounds, I’ve got some extremely good memories here,” Du Plessis, pictured, said ahead of today’s second one-day international between South Africa and Australia at what was once upon a time the most picturesque venue Down Under.

“This and Newlands are my two favourite grounds.”

For Du Plessis it’s a special venue where some career highlights were achieved. It started with his Test debut there in 2012, which featured the embarrassing episode of him stumbling down the stairs of the Bradman Pavilion as he made his way out to bat.

He went onto score 78 in his first Test innings, and followed that up with a more memorable unbeaten 110 in the second innings.

Four years later, the third and final Test between the two teams was no less memorable. SA had already won the series, but Du Plessis and his team arrived in the South Australian capital amidst a brouhaha over a mint, saliva, a cricket ball and video showing Du Plessis shining the ball which went viral. “My character was tested through that week,” remarked Du Plessis.

The SA captain, having been greeted by a cacophony of boos as he walked to the crease, went onto to make what the cricket fraternity described as one of the great “f&*# you” hundreds of all time, unleashing his pent up fury against the Australian bowlers. It didn’t prevent a loss, but Du Plessis had made his point. This time there is less attention on Du Plessis and more on Australian cricket.

“The last few series against Australia I feel there’s been more to it than just cricket and then as a team you have to make the shift and make the focus about cricket,” Du Plessis added.

Which is exactly what Du Plessis will hope happens in the second ODI. A win, gives SA the series, and will make for another happy memory for Du Plessis at the Adelaide Oval.