South Africa To Hand Du Plessis Test Debut

South Africa To Hand Du Plessis Test Debut

Francois du Plessis in action during the opening Test in Brisbane, where he was substitute fielder for JP Duminy

©REUTERS / Action Images

Francois du Plessis will make his Test debut for South Africa when they play Australia in the second Test which begins tomorrow (22nd November) in Adelaide.

Du Plessis will come into the side as the replacement for JP Duminy, whose tour was ended by a ruptured Achilles tendon during the opening Test in Brisbane, which was drawn.

Duminy suffered the injury following the close of the opening day and although Dean Elgar was called up to replace him in the squad, du Plessis, who acted as Duminy's substitute fielder, has been preferred in the line-up.

bet365 now make both Australia and South Africa 2/1 to win the match with the draw 13/8 favourite.

Du Plessis was first called into the South African Test squad in England in July and he has already played 26 One-Day Internationals and four Twenty20 Internationals.

"The fact that he's making his debut is exciting," captain Graeme Smith said at his pre-match press conference in Adelaide.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for Faf, he has set a high standard over the last few years, he has played a role in the one-day format and T20 format. I know he is excited to get the opportunity to play Test cricket, he has been around this group solidly since England and he has been a part of some special times. I think he is looking forward to hopefully making a mark on this team."

South Africa are likely to make one more change as Smith expects to be able to call upon leg-spinner Imran Tahir after the Proteas opted for an all-pace attack in Brisbane.

"The majority of the time we like to go in with a spinner," he said. "Brisbane was a slight change for us in terms of the way we go about things tactically. We are back to normal with Imran (Tahir) and I’m looking forward to him hopefully playing a big part in the Test."

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