Maiden SA A call-up for Jean
For the first time since February 2020, Plettonian cricketer Jean du Plessis will don South African colours again this week as part of the SA A team taking on India A. Du Plessis (25) has represented South Africa at U19 level too, but it was in February 2020 that he pulled a South African shirt over his head at senior level for the first time. He did so alongside then club teammate Stephan Tait as part of the Cricket South Africa Invitational XI that played two matches against England as part of the Three Lions' preparation for a three-match ODI series against the Proteas.
But, not long thereafter, the entire world was thrown into chaos and with it the cricketing world. It was no different for Du Plessis, who had a real rollercoaster ride in the years that were to come.
He was in decent form when cricket resumed under strict restrictions in the Covid-19 pandemic, earning a call-up to the Cobras side in January 2021.
Soon after that, however, Du Plessis returned to the SWD set-up as captain and the domestic cricket scene was shaken up by the introduction of a new franchise system and SWD's franchise side was rebranded to Garden Route Badgers with Du Plessis retaining his captaincy. However, disaster struck when he suffered an injury that would rule him out for the bulk of the 2022-23 season.
Without any competitive cricket under his belt for the better part of a year, Du Plessis returned to the playing field earlier this year in England in the colours of Welbeck Cricket Club. He came back with blistering brilliance, quickly finding form en route to a 1 000-plus run season in the UK before returning home and continuing his form on home soil.
Just last week he became only the third South African and the first Badgers player to score a century and a double hundred in a single First Class match. Du Plessis scored 203 in the first innings and 101* in the second, cementing his place in history.
He was in decent form when cricket resumed under strict restrictions in the Covid-19 pandemic, earning a call-up to the Cobras side in January 2021.
Now his red hot form has been handed a just reward with his first-ever call-up to the SA A team. On Saturday 9 December, Cricket South Africa announced the SA A squads for the India A tour of South Africa.
SA A will play two four-day matches against India A, one at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom from 11 to 14 December and the second at Willowmoore Park in Benoni from 26 to 29 December.
The first match, which will be led by former SA U19 captain Bryce Parsons, afforded selectors the opportunity to test the depth of the talent pool within CSA's pipeline structures.
Du Plessis is currently making his appearance in the side in the first match, which started on Monday.
Unfortunately the first day rained out with no chance of play whatsoever, but play commenced on Tuesday.