Du Plessis back in S.African fold after stepping down from captaincy

Faf du Plessis and pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada have been recalled into the South African fold for a Twenty20 series against Australia that gets under way on Friday.

Both the players were rested for England series, which South Africa lost 2-1 under the then stand-in captain Quinton de Kock.  

Following the Du Plessis’s announcement to step down from captaincy on Monday, de Kock will lead the squad against Australia. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, one of South Africa’s successes in a losing Test series, has also been included in the squad named by Cricket South Africa on Monday.

Independent selector Linda Zondi said the inclusion of Rabada and Nortje would boost the team’s bowling following a 2-1 defeat by England in a series which ended on Sunday.

“The T20 series may not have been won but it was really pleasing to see our batting unit play so well,” said Zondi, who added that the return of Du Plessis would add an extra dimension to the batting.

Temba Bavuma’s selection is dependent on a scan of his right hamstring after he was injured during Sunday’s final match against England.

Meanwhile, du Plessis announced that he was stepping down as South Africa’s cricket captain with immediate effect.

Du Plessis, 35, said he needed to take “a step back” from the captaincy in order to help the emergence of the next generation of leaders under Quinton de Kock.

It was announced last month that De Kock would be South Africa’s long-term one-day captain but in Monday’s statement, Du Plessis said he was also relinquishing the Test and T20 captaincy.

The announcement clears the way for De Kock to lead South Africa at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November and possibly to lead the Test team in a two-match series in the West Indies in July and August.

In a statement issued by Cricket South Africa, Du Plessis said he wanted to concentrate on contributing to the team as a batsman and senior player.

Du Plessis captained South Africa in 112 matches across all formats, including 36 Tests.

He said his time away from cricket since the end of the Test series against England last month had given him “a lot of perspective”.

Du Plessis added, “It has been a rewarding, sometimes tough and other times a lonely road, but I would not replace the experience for anything, because it has made me the man that I am proud to be today.”

Agence France-Presse