Faf du Plessis explains how his ‘fighting character’ helped establish him as a red-ball cricketer

Faf du Plessis made his Test debut against Australia and when he walked out to bat, the situation posed a challenge fit for even a seasoned veteran, let alone a debutant. Faf walked in with AB de Villiers at the crease, with the pair tasked with needing to pull off a much-needed blockathon. 

The two in the middle emerged like phoenixes from the ashes of ruins and despair as Australia threatened to leave them running short of gas. Faf saw De Villiers pulling off a stunning knock at his end, while he motored along well. He opened up at length about how it went all along, particularly after his resilient showdown against the intimidating Australians in the latest episode of the RCB Podcast Season 2.

Adding further to that, he also talked about how it particularly felt after pulling off a marathon innings alongside the RCB Hall of Famer. Faf said, “I think twofold. I mean I was always better at white-ball cricket. Then came the red-ball cricket. At the age of 21, I reckoned I was pretty much ready to be thrown in the deep if I had that opportunity in white-ball cricket.”

He continued, “In red-ball cricket, I was an unfinished product. I went over to play county cricket for two or three years which was really challenging because the ball swings a lot and the wickets are quite green. It taught me that it was tough for me to get into the red-ball perspective. But it did grow my game. In white ball cricket, I just took off that side as well. I had a really good white ball campaign.”

Faf also highlighted the difference between white-ball cricket and red-ball cricket, adding, “The thing with red-ball cricket is always like I would get a great 40 and then get out. I was never consistent and could manage to turn those hundreds or the big scores. That is what you need to do in red-ball cricket. Like you get a couple of 30s or 40s and then you get a few good balls and you are averaging 30 or 35 which is not good enough to play at the highest level.”

The RCB skipper also said, “I went through that process and made my One Day debut for South Africa. I think it was a year or so in 2011. It was my One Day debut against India. Despite my debut on that day, still there was this question mark about red ball cricket. However, I think, since I started playing white-ball cricket for South Africa, I gained a huge amount of confidence in the fact that I do belong at the highest level. It almost filtered through to my red-ball cricket as well. My numbers didn’t justify, however, to be a part of the Test team. But I think what they saw in me, they liked. They liked the fact that I was fighting. They saw that there was character and a big part of that international cricket is that character because it does become a bit more mental than just talent.”