Du Plessis asks for ‘more clinical’ performance

Standard Bank Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, has asked for a more clinical performance from his players in the second one-day international (ODI) against Australia taking place at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. The bowlers were almost faultless in the opening match in Perth to dismiss the home team for 152 in 38.1 overs, and it is with the bat that Du Plessis has asked for more ruthlessness and improvement. It is often said to never change a winning combination, but the captain admits the limited opportunities in a three-match series could warrant a few tweaks to scout as many players as possible. All-rounders, Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius are options, while left-arm wrist-spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, is also a look-in in potentially slow drop-in pitch conditions. The Adelaide Oval holds many fond memories for Du Plessis, memories that have shaped him into the leader and cricketer he is today. They scale from the high of a determined Test century on debut in 2012, to overcoming the toughest week of his career with a resilient century in challenging surroundings during the 2016 ball-tampering case.