Faf’s tactics cost Proteas victory

Today, South African cricket supporters must still be wondering how the Proteas managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on Saturday.

Defending 303 runs in the fourth innings, even without Vernon Philander, should never have been too much of a concern for our much vaunted bowling attack and, at 226 for 9, it had to be a doddle!

Unfortunately, as soon the Sri Lankan number eleven Fernando joined the brilliant Perera at the wicket, Faf du Plessis, pictured, just like an under-14 schoolboy captain, spread the field whenever Perera was on strike, thereby giving him the freedom of Kingsmead and inviting him to take a single, which he did only when it was necessary to the Sri Lankan cause, meanwhile scoring freely off the earlier deliveries.

At no stage did Du Plessis at- tack Perera, preferring instead to wait for Fernando to be on strike. He eventually defended 27 deliveries of which only about half a dozen would have hit the stumps!

Had the South African captain

Send us your letter

attacked both batsmen with conventional field placing, the Proteas and their supporters would be a lot happier today. Hey, Faf, grow up!

Blairgowrie We publish letters that come with full name, address and telephone number even if you want to use a pseudonym. letters@ citizen.co.za, fax 010-492-5386 or PO Box 43069 Industria 2042

Sandy Virtue,