READY FOR A ROUGH OZ RIDE, CHUCKLES FAF
Proteas under no illusion at what struggling Australians will be serving up during tour Down Under
The Proteas are bracing for a hostile reception in Australia when the two sides play in a limited-overs series Down Under next month.
The South Africans flew out of the country on Tuesday afternoon to start preparations for the three ODIs and a once-off T20 against the old foes and captain Faf du Plessis said they must be prepared to handle whatever the Aussies are going to throw at them.
“The last two tours against them home and away were very entertaining and I expect them to come at us‚ especially in the media space.
“But we see it as part and parcel of playing against them in Australia‚” said Du Plessis at his departure press conference at OR Tambo Airport on Tuesday.
Tensions between the Proteas and the Aussies were heightened earlier this year when skipper Steve Smith and opener David Warner were hit with 12month bans while Cameron Bancroft received nine months for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal that rocked the third Test at Newlands.
“Australia is one of our favourite teams to play against‚” he said. “On and off the field I love what they bring and they bring the best out of us.”
Du Plessis said a good start is vital in the short series.
“We are playing against an Australia side that is trying to prove to people that they are the team that they used to be‚” he said.