FAF du Plessis will play his last match for South Africa for almost a month, perhaps more, in the second T20 against Pakistan at Newlands today.
Du Plessis, South Africa’s T20 captain, was left out of the squad announced yesterday to play six one-day internationals against Pakistan and India between Sunday and December 11.
However, neither Du Plessis nor Imari Visser will complain about the enforced break – they will wed in Cape Town tomorrow.
They might even be able to extend their honeymoon if Du Plessis is left out of the Test squad to play India next month. He has gone seven innings without a half-century in that format.
“The return of Kallis means Faf du Plessis has to drop out,” was how selection convenor Andrew Hudson explained his panel’s decision in a statement yesterday.
“As well as Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell have done as emerging allrounders, it is very welcome news to have Jacques back as our premium allrounder.”
For now, Du Plessis will concentrate on wrapping up a series win over the Pakistanis in Cape Town today.
At the Wanderers on Wednesday, South Africa got away with a four-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis method when the match was washed out in the 10th over of Pakistan’s reply to the home side’s total of 153/7.
“I wouldn’t read too much into how close it was on Duckworth-Lewis,” Du Plessis said.
“We were never behind the eight-ball and I was confident we were in a good position.”
But he conceded his team did not play the same high quality of cricket that saw them sweep the Emirates series 2-0.
SA will look for more stability from their middle order today, what with their top three – Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and Du Plessis – having scored 96 of Wednesday’s runs between them.
SA ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Kallis back in fray for Pakistan ODIs
Du Plessis, South Africa’s T20 captain, was left out of the squad announced yesterday to play six one-day internationals against Pakistan and India between Sunday and December 11.
However, neither Du Plessis nor Imari Visser will complain about the enforced break – they will wed in Cape Town tomorrow.
They might even be able to extend their honeymoon if Du Plessis is left out of the Test squad to play India next month. He has gone seven innings without a half-century in that format.
“The return of Kallis means Faf du Plessis has to drop out,” was how selection convenor Andrew Hudson explained his panel’s decision in a statement yesterday.
“As well as Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell have done as emerging allrounders, it is very welcome news to have Jacques back as our premium allrounder.”
For now, Du Plessis will concentrate on wrapping up a series win over the Pakistanis in Cape Town today.
At the Wanderers on Wednesday, South Africa got away with a four-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis method when the match was washed out in the 10th over of Pakistan’s reply to the home side’s total of 153/7.
“I wouldn’t read too much into how close it was on Duckworth-Lewis,” Du Plessis said.
“We were never behind the eight-ball and I was confident we were in a good position.”
But he conceded his team did not play the same high quality of cricket that saw them sweep the Emirates series 2-0.
SA will look for more stability from their middle order today, what with their top three – Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and Du Plessis – having scored 96 of Wednesday’s runs between them.
SA ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
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