Faf’s experience will come in handy: Boucher

Proteas’ tour begins on February 12

March 09, 2020 10:06 pm | Updated 10:06 pm IST - New Delhi

Faf du Plessis.

Faf du Plessis.

Former skipper Faf du Plessis’ long experience of playing the IPL and international cricket in India will come in handy during the upcoming three-match ODI series, says South Africa head coach Mark Boucher.

The series starts in Dharamsala on February 12.

“If you go to a place like India, you need to find a balance between youth and experience. I think Faf is really doing well in ODI cricket. The last time he played, he got a hundred. He knows the Indian conditions very well,” Boucher said at the team’s pre-departure press conference on Sunday.

The South African team reached India on Monday morning and will take a chartered flight to Dharamsala on Tuesday. Boucher feels that having du Plessis also means he will have some selection headaches, which is a good thing to have.

“It’s a good headache to have. Just him being around the squad will add a lot of value and experience. We will look at conditions and then put together combinations. Why you would want to have Faf is because he has done really well in those (Indian) conditions,” Boucher said.

While South Africa lost the T20 series 2-1 to Australia, it won the ODIs 3-0, which gives them confidence going into the series against India.

“T20s are important this year given we have the T20 World Cup. But, in general, the Proteas and Cricket South Africa (CSA), we need to find ourselves growing. We have just beaten a very good team. We needed confidence and it will certainly give us a lot of confidence.”

The former wicketkeeper said Indian conditions would be tough for a lot of visiting players, who will be touring the country for the first time. “India is going to be a tough test. Different conditions. Lot of guys haven’t played a lot of cricket in India as well. What’s impressive is guys have responded to the messages we have sent out to them on batting and bowling perspectives,” he said.

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