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Faf du Plessis Says Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers Can’t be Replaced Overnight
By Shruti - Oct 14, 2019 12:58 pm
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South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said that the difference between both the teams has been the “inexperience” as the world-class players like Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers can’t be replaced overnight. South Africa lost by 203 runs in the first Test and lost by an innings and 137 runs in the second Test as well.

Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis

“I think, it’s purely a case of inexperience. I said before this Test series, your best Test teams are the teams with the most experience. When it comes to this Indian team, there’s a lot of experience in that dressing room, there’s a lot of Test matches behind their names,” Faf Du Plessis said.

“We are at this stage where we have lost almost all of our experience. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, all of them were seasoned campaigners. You don’t replace those guys overnight. And now it’s a new group of guys, who have played 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15 Test matches. That will take time. If you take the best players out of any team, they would find the same challenges,” Du Plessis explained.

He further said that he should play well along with Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar.

“For us, it is important as a senior player group to make sure that we put in performances ourselves. Myself, Deano, Quinny (De Kock), we can’t expect other guys to make runs. We need to make sure we make the runs first and then the others guys to chip in with us. In a time like this, it is important that your big guys really, really take control and make sure that they put in the bulk of the work,” said Du Plessis.

Du Plessis indicated that some decisions are on the cards regarding their batting unit.

Read here: Mithali Raj, Punam Raut Guide India to a Comfortable Win over South Africa

faf
Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis

“The batting failed in the first innings and from the starting point of view, we have not started well. Every single innings, we have been in a position where we have been 40 or 50 for three. It’s a vital component as how you start in the sub-continent,” he said.

“India could be a tough place to play if you lose form. And perhaps it is a good opportunity to get some fresh heads into the team. Just from my mental point of view, it can be a place for you like, where’s my next one (hundred) going to come from,” he further added.

Faf du Plessis praised Virat Kohli’s double hundred as well who broke a couple of records with the double ton.

“Virat’s knock was incredible. Surprised that he started slow, normally he is quite busy and gets off quite well. He was quite patient in the beginning, which was required in the wicket, he left well. And then, sheer mental toughness to bat for that long. It takes huge amount of brain power. You can see that, and you can only admire from a distance.”