2019 World Cup: Faf du Plessis Wants South Africa to Play Courageous Brand of Cricket

South Africa captain, Faf du Plessis wants the Proteas to play an attacking brand of cricket at the 2019 World Cup scheduled in England and Wales next year.

South Africa will look to end their chokers tag and win their first World Cup title. The four-time semi-finalists have never managed to reach the final of the quadrennial event. They have fallen at the last four stage in half of their World Cup campaigns.

Over the years, the tag of chokers has always come to haunt the South African players. They have always boasted of top-class players over the years.

However, they have not managed the elusive victory in the semifinal. Faf du Plessis was part of the side which lost the 2015 World Cup semi-final to New Zealand. He wants the shackles to get removed from the teammates. Hence, he is promoting an attacking and courageous brand of cricket which might help them in the quadrennial event next year.

Faf du Plessis wants the current players to play a courageous brand of cricket

“For me, you can see in the current group there is some young, courageous players in there,” du Plessis was quoted as saying by the ICC website.

“I believe that is the way we’ll win the World Cup; to really go there without all the baggage and go ‘these are the most talented and courageous cricketers’ and play a style of cricket that doesn’t limit us from being so mentally challenged by going to a World Cup every time.

“Because that’s probably the only hurdle we haven’t overcome is the mental aspect of it. We’ve always been skilfully right up there, just lacking in crucial aspects of the game. That’s why my message is to free players up mentally, try to get them to space where they’re not fearing failing.

“I’ve been involved in two World Cups now where we’ve tried two different approaches, from leading up to the tournament and a mental approach. I certainly have seen the good, the benefits, and bad from both of them.” Du Plessis feels that the bowlers will give them the best chance of lifting their maiden World Cup title.

“I think if you look at Pakistan who won the Champions Trophy, your bowling unit is going to play a massive role,” he added.

Faf du Plessis feels bowling will play a significant role in the quadrennial event

“We went there [Champions Trophy] with probably the best batting line-up in the world – I think we had four of the top ten batters, so we were feeling very confident in the batting unit we had. But the ability to get wickets in those conditions seemed to be the ten percenter, so that’s why we’re looking at guys who can get you wickets at any stage of a game.

“From a batting point of view, try and have as long a batting line-up as you can. That’s probably why England will call themselves favourites because they have a very long batting line-up. It’s a little different with our team; we don’t have those guys who are all-rounders.”

Meanwhile, du Plessis further added speedster Dale Steyn is well in the scheme of things for the next year’s World Cup. However, he said one more spot for a fast bowler is still up for grabs.

“Yes I do,” said du Plessis when asked whether he saw Steyn featuring in South Africa’s World Cup plans.

“We probably need one more fast bowler. You probably need three fast bowlers in your squad, over the next two series, we’ll see who grabs that opportunity,” du Plessis concluded.