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South Africa

Francois du Plessis, fondly referred to as Faf, is South Africa’s captain cool which may never are . Having signed a Kolpak affect Lancashire, Faf had initially decided to travel the way of professional cricket. However, as fate would have it, the implementation of a replacement immigration policy resulted in du Plessis being unable to satisfy his duties as a Kolpak player.

Upon his return to the South African fold, he had a prolific season in 2010 for the Titans (567 runs in 10 matches) within the MTN Pro40 competition, including three centuries in as many matches as he began to play the doors of the national selectors.

Du Plessis’s calm and composed approach at the middle ensured that he was an ideal fit international cricket – especially during a side that has had the ‘ch**ers’ label sticking to them since before one can remember. An orthodox, all-conditions technique and a dogged approach at the crease makes him an asset within the age of T20 cricket. Moreover, his ability to strike it big may be a testament to the flexibility of the person . After marking his ODI debut against India with a composed 50 in January 2011, he continued his propriety within the World Cup , notably steering his side to victory during a high-pressure run-chase against eventual World Champions, India.

After an extended await the coveted Test cap, du Plessis was finally awarded an area within the side on the tour to Australia. then it happened. The career-defining knock. In Adelaide, under immense pressure within the world’s toughest backyard, du Plessis showed immense grit and antiquated resolve with AB de Villiers to grab an exciting draw on the ultimate day, indirectly leading them to an outstanding series win and handing South Africa the ICC Test Championship mace.

Thereafter, du Plessis continued to be an immovable figure within the South African line-up: one among the large three (Amla, de Villiers, and Faf) most coveted wickets for the opposition. He led by example within the shortest format too (although silverware continued to elude them) with a semifinal finish within the 2014 edition of World T20 and an outstanding 2015 World Cup campaign which famously led to heart-break for the South Africans. Nevertheless, barring the ICC tournaments and therefore the India tour of 2015, South Africa continued to try to to well across formats; especially abroad, in an age of fortress domination.

After a form slump in Tests, du Plessis was dropped for the beginning of the britain series in 2016, as his school-friend AB de Villiers took over the captaincy from Hashim Amla. However, citing injury and workload issues, de Villiers stepped down from his role in December. du Plessis, long believed to be the natural successor for the work , had found his run-scoring mojo and was filling in as deputy skipper. He even led South Africa |African country|African nation”> South Africa to a famous Test series win in November against Australia in their own backyard and was named permanent Test captain of South Africa with immediate effect.

With AB de Villiers stepping down half-way through 2017 as ODI captain, following a disastrous Champions Trophy campaign, Faf du Plessis was appointed the captain of South Africa across formats.