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Proteas to Pull Out All Stops Today with Eye on Making History

Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, and his team have their eye on making history in the fifth Momentum One-Day International (ODI) against Australia at PCC Newlands on Wednesday… which has just begun. South Africa won the toss and have elected to bat first. David Miller, who was suffering a groin injury, is back. The Proteas lead […]

By SAPeople
12-10-16 13:31
in Fab South African Stuff

Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, and his team have their eye on making history in the fifth Momentum One-Day International (ODI) against Australia at PCC Newlands on Wednesday… which has just begun. South Africa won the toss and have elected to bat first.

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Standard Bank Proteas ODI captain Faf du Plessis. Source: Cricket.co.za

David Miller, who was suffering a groin injury, is back.

The Proteas lead the series 4-0, and are on the brink of becoming the first team in history to inflict a whitewash against Australia in a five-match ODI series.

“Everyone is fit, which is great,” Du Plessis said on the eve of the match. He said it has given the team the opportunity to play its strongest team.

“Kyle (Abbott) put up his hand in the previous game so it’s difficult to leave a guy out when he puts in a performance like that.”

Du Plessis has the opportunity to achieve what no other South African captain has achieved, and as a relatively new leader in this format, admits he is driven to lead from the front on and off the field.

He believes the squad has developed its own brand and identity which has come through in their dominant performances throughout the series, a team ethos led by continuously challenging his players to perform at their peak.

“ I think there is a general belief in the squad,” he said. “The direction of the team is on a different path. The individuals don’t think it’s an individual game anymore and if at any stage they do think that they will get challenged, that is why the team is doing so well.

“The squad is in a good place, the guys are extremely hungry to perform and that makes it easy to captain.

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Supplied by Fred S. – “History can be made today. Ozzies get a whitewash.”

“It’s important for me to keep driving that,” he said of the culture. “That is something I try to live every day in this team, to make sure that I do challenge guys to try and get better, to try and put in performances for this team that will make us a great team.”

Source: Cricket.co.za