Faf du Plessis to hold meeting with CSA over slow Centurion surface

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, who exp is scheduled to meet the officials of the CSA to talk about the Centurion surface which remained the highlight across five days in the African media in particular when the leader expressed a huge concern over the slow pitch during the recently-concluded second Test.

“It did not look like the Centurion pitch I know and that is a concern, to be honest. I can think of three or four occasions where over the last 12 months and we needed to be better as a collective,” du Plessis was quoted as saying by Times Live.

The surface which irked du Plessis and he was simultaneously unhappy after expecting pace and bounce on the surface.

“That is something that I will be taking up to make sure that we improve,” du Plessis maintained.

Interestingly, the surface was prepared by Byran Bloy, and du Plessis remarked they are supposed to take the responsibility somewhat avoid blaming the groundsmen.

“We can blame the groundsman but I think we must blame ourselves,” du Plessis asserted.

The 33-year-old du Plessis adding it’s the Board which has been monitoring the activities regarding the surfaces by considering the procedure.

“Because we have made the process where we made sure that CSA are the ones who look after the groundsmen to get the right kind of pitches when we play against teams,” du Plessis added.

Du Plessis with expecting a lot with the likes of pace quartet in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Man of the Match Lungi Ngidi, who has been the local hero and kept his cool to deliver big with the long levers.

“We never wanted it to be ridiculous‚ we just wanted a pitch with pace and bounce. I think there is a concern that we are not getting it right,” du Plessis reiterated.

However, the hosts Proteas went on to seal the series 2-0 by 135 runs on the extending session of day four when India was strangulated at 151 in 50.2 overs, as debutant Ngidi starred with the bowling figures of six for 39 in 12.2 overs.

“I was very concerned when I got here leading up to the Test match. I am very honest about good things when it is right and this was an opportunity that we missed,” du Plessis concluded.

With a surface of the SuperSport Park remaining under question which subsequently saw India’s skipper Virat Kohli was happy with the surface after it provided some assistance to the spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Pertinently, both teams were seen introducing the spinners, and off-spinner Ashwin proved to be handy with the ball for India.

However, the lanky fast bowler Morkel earlier dubbed the surface as the subcontinent wicket earlier while stating things were getting tougher when he reflected on the bowling under scorching heat in Centurion.

In 2017, du Plessis was seen livid after pointing the slower surfaces in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom when Bangladesh toured the Rainbow Nation.

The third and final Test is slated for January 24 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg where India has to salvage some pride and hosts would be aiming for a clean sweep.

Follow India facing the Proteas: South Africa Vs India, 2018