QUINTON de Kock, the new captain albeit for the one- day internationals, has started on a winning note against world champions England beating them quite comfortably in the first game.
The freshness in leadership can make a difference for under Faf du Plessis the team was looking short of ideas and motivation. Having won the first Test under a new administration everybody thought that thereu2019s been a change in fortunes but things went back to being what they were under Du Plessis and England won the next three Test matches in a canter.
Du Plessis standing with his hands on his knees at first slip and doing nothing to motivate the players was a familiar sight when South Africa were in India earlier where they lost all three Test matches. Not much changed when they went back home for when England were pushing for quick runs to declare the second innings there was Du Plessis standing at slip and watching as if he was a spectator. The beauty of it was that when it came to the media conference at the end of the Test matches Du Plessis was saying that he wouldnu2019t walk away and leave the team in the lurch. He was speaking as if the captaincy was going to be with him and it was he himself who would take the call to stay or not and not the selection committee.
For a captain under whom South Africa lost a series at home to a sub- continent team, Sri Lanka for the first time and then barely won a couple of games in the ICC World Cup and then lost all three Test matches in India to believe that he is doing the team and South African Cricket a favour by staying on has to be the greatest selfdeception ever.
If anything, South Africa would be better off if he is replaced because quite frankly they canu2019t get worse than what they are at the moment. He has been a wonderful servant of the game for South Africa but everybodyu2019s time comes to go and while Du Plessis may still be worth his place in the team as a batsman, as a captain his time is definitely up.
The news that thereu2019s going to be a rethink about Kolpak players is also welcome news.
Many players who believe they have limited or no chance of playing for their country opt to take the Kolpak route to play in the English county championships.
Once they have taken that decision and turned their backs on their country then they shouldnu2019t be allowed to come back. Whether thatu2019s going to happen we will have to wait and see.
Professional Management Group Tes DU PLESSISu2019S TIME AS A CAPTAIN IS definitely up Under Faf, South Africa looked short of ideas and motivation during Test series against England Sunil Gavaskar st raight drive South Africau2019s Faf du Plessis reacts after missing a catch during the fourth Test against England at Johannesburg last month. PIC/ AFP Faf du Plessis standing with his hands on his knees at first slip and doing nothing to motivate the players was a familiar sight when South Africa were in India earlier where they lost all three Test matches. Not much changed when they went back home. When England were pushing for quick runs to declare the second innings, there was Du Plessis standing at slip and watching as if he was a spectator
