Du Plessis wants the cricket to do the talking

Standard Bank Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, says it is time for his team to make a bold statement with performances in the second Sunfoil Test match against Australia starting at St George’s Park on Friday. Du Plessis says the team will continue with the ‘positive’ brand of cricket that has been synonymous with his captaincy reign, a tried and tested formula that has achieved results in the past. The captain plays in his 50th Test match for South Africa, joining Hashim Amla (114), AB de Villiers (111) Vernon Philander (51) and Morne Morkel (84) in the current squad to have achieved the feat. The milestone will be the ideal reminder for Du Plessis – and the rest of the senior players – of the importance of making their experience and expertise count in the big moments. The Proteas return to a happy hunting ground in St George’s Park, where they haven’t lost a match since 2007. The Proteas beat Australia by 231 runs the last time the two teams met at the venue in 2014.