Published: Oct 12, 2016, 10:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 12, 2016, 10:03 PM (IST)
Johannesburg [South Africa] (ANI): Stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis, who guided South Africa to 4-0 series lead against rivals Australia in the five-match ODI series, believes that the performance of his team is not down to his leadership. Du Plessis was also at the helm when South Africa returned back to the winning ways in the Test arena with a 1-0 home series win against New Zealand. The 32-year-old said the players in the team no more think that cricket is an individual game and at any stage if they do think that they would get challenged. Full Cricket Scorecard, South Africa vs Australia, 5th ODI
“No, it’s not my captaincy,” Du Plessis said at Newlands just a day before the fifth and the final ODI. “I think it’s just a general belief in the squad. As I have mentioned to you guys countless times the direction of the team is on a different path. That’s why the team is doing so well. The squad is in a really good place and the guys are extremely hungry to perform and that makes it easy to captain,” Sport24 quoted Du Plessis as saying.
The right-handed batsman, however, did say that he felt at his best when he was leading the team. “It’s important for me to keep driving that and that’s something I try and live every day … try and make sure that I do challenge guys every single day to try and get better and put in performances that will make us a really good team,” he said.
South Africa have beaten Australia in all the three departments in the ongoing series and Du Plessis has time and again voiced that it was because of the attitude that has been embraced by all members of the squad. The Proteas will be aiming to become the first team to complete a 5-0 whitewash against Australia when both teams face off in the final ODI today at Newlands, Cape Town. (ANI)
