SA vs ZIM 2017: Faf du Plessis Doubtful For Historic Four-Day Test
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis’ hopes of leading his side in the historic inaugural four-day Test against Zimbabwe can be dashed owing to an injury.
The 33-year old is currently recovering from an acute lumbar disc injury which he sustained during the third ODI against Bangladesh late October, and subsequently got sidelined for six weeks. And with a hectic three month set to follow the four-day Test, South Africa is in no mood to risk their captain’s fitness.
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Du Plessis was initially expected to be fit by mid-December, but his spell on the sidelines extended after he underwent surgery on a problematic shoulder during that period. Consequently, he was forced to miss the recently-concluded Ram Slam and was also not included in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Invitation XI for a warm-up match against Zimbabwe, which is to be held on Wednesday (December 20).
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Earlier this month, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, had said though du Plessis is on his way to regain full fitness, a late decision would be taken given the workload over the coming three months.
“If we reach next week and see that Faf would benefit from another week off, then we will give him that time.We are not going to be foolish with his return because there is a lot of cricket over the next few months,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Moosajee, as saying.
Du Plessis’ absence, meanwhile, can turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Proteas team management, as it will give them an opportunity to include AB de Villiers in the Test side without tinkering with the playing eleven much.
De Villiers has made himself available for selection in the longest format of the game and has also been named in the CSA Invitation XI, but it is speculated that the South Africa team-management is having a tough time in deciding the former skipper’s place in the playing eleven.
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The Proteas are likely to be led by Dean Elgar in du Plessis’ absence. The opening batsman had led South Africa against England early this year when du Plessis was on paternity leave.
Not playing in the upcoming game will be a big blow for du Plessis who would have loved to get some much-needed match practice ahead of the full-fledged series against India which will start with a three-match Test series and will be followed by six ODIs and three T20Is.
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