Perth - If Faf du Plessis was a contestant on the hit television show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” who would he dial up in that moment of need when he’s allowed to “Phone a Friend?”
Graeme Smith, of course. And that’s exactly what the Proteas skipper was going to do on Wednesday afternoon on the eve of the first Test against Australia here at the Waca.
“I’m going to speak to Graeme just to try and get some ideas of how he did things when he was over here because he was a very successful captain. I’m looking forward to that conversation. It’s important,” Du Plessis told the large media contingent.
Smith is loved in these parts - or as much as a foreign cricketer can be adored. After an initial cold reception from the Australian public due to his explicit revelations of the “greeting” he received from the Aussie team in his debut series back in 2002, “Biff” is now a revered figure after becoming the first visiting captain to lead his team to successive Test series win Down Under.
In addition to his team’s heroics, the former Proteas Test captain endeared himself further to the locals when he walked out at the SCG in 2008 with a broken hand, his own blood recently injected into his right elbow, in an attempt to save a Test in a series which the Proteas had already won.
He might not have achieved his objective, but he did earn the title of the “bravest man in cricket.” The Aussies like their heroes to be made of granite - a tough bastard as they like to say down here - and there was none tougher than Smith at the time.
These are the immense shoes that Du Plessis needs to fill over the course of the next three Test matches if South Africa are to become the first team since that legendary 1980’s West Indies sides that won three series on the bounce here in Australia.
And although he may not officially be the Proteas Test captain with the injured AB de Villiers pulling the salary for that post, but there’s no doubting Du Plessis has the respect of his changeroom in the same manner Smith demanded it.
He also leads by example, expecting nothing more of his teammates that he is prepared to give, and also shows that most sacred art of captaincy: the ability to council advice from his troops.
“That’s the great thing about captaincy,” Du Plessis said. “I find you never stop learning. I am grateful that I have been put in a position with the Test team where I am older, more mature and understand myself better as a leader a bit better. I feel there are a few things that worked well and a few things haven’t worked as well.
"I find right now I have got the balance better. I understand what it takes to be a better leader and what the team requires, especially this team right now. The most important thing for me as a leader is to try and ask and learn as much as you can because there’s a lot of valuable information out there.”
Are you ready to inspire #ProteaFire? Test match cricket starts tomorrow! Join us on SuperSport 2 for the build up from 03:30. #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/YFFfhVDFhK
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 2, 2016
Du Plessis’s undertaking has certainly been made easier due to the fact that “there are no egos in our team”, but it’s also due to his personal on-field contributions especially here in Australia. It was on the last tour here under Smith’s guidance four years ago that Du Plessis made his Test bow in spectacular fashion.
Not only did his marathon innings that lasted just a shade under eight hours save the Adelaide Test, but it allowed South Africa to build the momentum that ultimately saw them knock out a demoralised home side here at the Waca to clinch the series. It is these positive energies that Du Plessis will draw on when he leads his team in this series opener on Wednesday.
“Confidence plays a huge role in cricket. When you come up against good teams like Australia, you need everything. My first thought walking into Perth was of winning four years ago. You’d rather have good memories than bad memories,” Du Plessis explained.
It's almost show time! The captains are ready, the stage is set, bring on some Test cricket #AusvSA #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/PpMj4UHuM6
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 2, 2016
After the long wait and all the hype and bravado of the the build-up the time has come for Du Plessis and his team to create new memories and chase that million dollar prize, starting here at this iconic old ground.
Independent Media