Faf Du Plessis Does Not Support The Concept Of Four-Day Tests

Amid plenty of speculations over the implementation of four-day Tests, South African captain Faf Du Plessis revealed his stance on the same. Cricket South Africa declared that it is in their official policy to reduce one day from the conventional Test matches. However, Du Plessis doesn’t support the concept of tinkering further with the longest version of the game. He is among the few present and the former cricketing greats who doesn’t condone it.

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The 35-year old’s refusal to accept a change in the format comes after the second of the four-Test series at Newlands in Cape Town against England went on for full five days. The Englishmen sealed a thrilling victory by 189 runs in the final hour of the day to level the series. With three wickets needed from the last session, Ben Stokes quickly wrapped up the tail to give England their first win at Newlands since 1957.

Faf Du Plessis stated that personally, he is a fan of five-day Tests. Despite knowing that a lot of Tests don’t last five days, the Proteas’ skipper wants the format of red-ball cricket in internationals to remain intact. He further stated that he has been part of Tests that went down to the wire and referring to the Newlands Test, he conceded that a result would not have been possible in four days.

“I suppose you’ve got to ask CSA what their opinion is. My opinion is that I am a fan of Test cricket going five days. I understand that a lot of money is being burnt on five-day cricket because so many Test matches are not going five days. People will sit 50-50 on it. My personal opinion is that I am still a purist of the game because I have been part of some great draws that went five days. There would definitely not have been a result in four days on this surface.” Du Plessis said as quoted by Hindustan Times

Cricket South Africa releases an official statement:

CSA disclosed in an official statement that it is their policy to condone four-day Tests and released this statement in the wake of unsourced and misleading media reports with regards to this. The statement also reminded that they hosted a four-day international Test match two years ago between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“In view of an unsourced and misleading report in the media this morning please be advised that it is Cricket South Africa’s official policy to support four-day Test match cricket. We, in fact, hosted the first official four-day Test match between ourselves and Zimbabwe a couple of years ago.” the statement said.

The Proteas play their third Test against England at St. George Park in Port Elizabeth which starts from the 16th of January.

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