Australia scarred after ODI hammering in South Africa, says Du Plessis

The visitors suffered their first-ever 5-0 one-day bilateral series defeat against the Proteas this month


Reuters October 17, 2016
PHOTO: AFP

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes Australia will head into next month’s Test series against his team mentally scarred following their ODI whitewash by the Proteas.

Australia suffered their first-ever 5-0 one-day bilateral series defeat against South Africa this month and will now host Du Plessis’ side for three Tests starting on November 3, including a day-night fixture in Adelaide.

“Beating Australia the way we did – really convincingly, not giving them a sniff – will leave a bit of a scar on them mentally,” Du Plessis told reporters. “I appreciate that it’s Test cricket, and it’s a different format.”

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He added: “They will have a different team, probably a more mature team (than their ODI squad). So it’s important to start well in that first Test and remind them that we are in the same space as the one-day team.”

Du Plessis, who will captain the team in the absence of injured AB de Villiers when they visit Australia, is wary of the threat posed by left-armer Mitchell Starc, who has picked up 115 wickets in 28 Tests.

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Starc, who was rested from Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa, sustained a freak accident in training last month.

“Starc is a huge bowler for them,” said Du Plessis. “We’ll need to make sure we get good prep in with left-arm quicks. He’s obviously someone who can crank it up and get it close to 150km/h and then obviously he’s very good with reverse swing.”

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