SA vs AUS, 2018: Faf du Plessis in doubt for first Test; de Villiers, de Kock to be fit
Updated - 20 Feb 2018, 02:28 PM
South Africa’s captain, Faf du Plessis, is in doubt for the first Test of the four-match series against Australia. The gruelling series will be beginning on March 1 at Kingsmead in Durban.
Du Plessis suffered a finger injury during the first ODI against India in Durban, where he scored a century. It further ruled him out of the limited-overs series comprised of six ODIs and three T20Is.
The 33-year-old batsman Faf du Plessis has still not been declared fit to participate in the first Test and his participation remains in doubt.
On the other hand, AB de Villiers will be fit to play the first game. He is currently not a part of the T20I series against India due to a knee injury.
In fact, he also missed the first three ODIs due to a finger injury, which he suffered during the third Test against India in Johannesburg.
Should Plessis be not fit to play the first Test, he (de Villiers) might also be appointed as the captain.
The prominent batter de Villiers led South Africa in the historic four-day game against Zimbabwe in December 2017.
De Villiers was playing his first Test after 23 months and was straightaway asked to lead the team as Plessis was not unfit to participate.
Quinton de Kock, who was ruled out during ODI series against India, is all set to make his comeback to the national side. Though he had a torrid run in the Test series but is all set to keep his place in the side. He could just manage 71 runs in six innings against India.
Other players, who participated in the Test series against India, are all set to keep their place in the Test side for the first Test.
The Test series between South Africa and Australia starts on March 1.
Second and third Test will be played in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, starting on March 9 and 22 respectively.
The month-long series will come to an end with a Test in Johannesburg, starting on March 30. Before the start of the international fixtures, Australia will play a three-day practice game against South Africa A.
The Steven Smith le side has already reached the country and has started practising for the series.
Australian opener, David Warner, will soon arrive in the camp after playing the final of the T20I series against New Zealand.
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