FAF DU PLESSIS
Faf’s highs: 1. Re-writing history
The Proteas have had great teams since re-admission. Under Graeme Smith’s leadership, they were ranked the No 1 Test team in the world. But even “Biff” failed to lead the Proteas to a series win over the arch-enemy Australia at home. Enter Du Plessis and his class of 2018. With the Australians self-destructing due to Sandpapergate in a hotly-contested series, Du Plessis led the Proteas to the Promised Land with a 3-1 series victory – the first time South Africa beat Australia at home since Ali Bacher’s team of 1969-70.
2. Whitewashing Australia
Du Plessis always said playing Australia was “the ultimate challenge in the game” and took immense pride in being able to beat them. He also kept his best individual performances for the boys clad in Baggy Greens or canary yellow. No Australian team had ever been whitewashed 5-0 in an ODI series until Du Plessis’ Proteas knocked them over in a superb series in 2016.
3. Beating Australia Down Under
Having made a glorious Test debut in Adelaide four years previously where his marathon innings saved the second Test, Du Plessis returned as captain next time around in 2016. He led the Proteas to a magical performance in Perth which secured victory in the first Test before the bowlers blew away the Australians in Hobart to secure SA’s third consecutive Test series win Down Under.
Faf’s lows: 1. 2019 World Cup nightmare
“Lowest point (of my career). Embarrassing.” These were some of the words Du Plessis used to describe the Proteas’ 2019 World Cup campaign as they slumped from one defeat to another. It was not just the performances on the field that “chipped away” at Du Plessis, but all the drama outside of it that just became too much. From AB de Villiers’ retirement U-turn to the management of Dale Steyn’s injury, the World Cup in England and Wales is one tournament Du Plessis would like to erase from his memory.
2. Achilles heel: Sri Lanka (home and away)
Du Plessis suffered the embarrassment of being in charge of the first Proteas team to lose a Test series to a subcontinent team at home when Sri Lanka humiliated the Proteas 2-0 in 2019. “It’s probably up there with the most disappointed I have been, certainly from a personal perspective, but also for the team,” Du Plessis said after the eight-wicket thrashing in Port Elizabeth. A previous visit to the islands was equally challenging with the Proteas being hammered 2-0 in Sri Lanka in 2018 too.
3. Mintgate
The 2016 tour of Australia was actionpacked. Du Plessis was charged with ball tampering for using the saliva from his chewing gum to shine the ball. Du Plessis vehemently denied the charges, but the ICC upheld it and the Proteas skipper was fined 100% of his match fee.