It has been nine matches since South African captain Faf du Plesis had last won a toss. Nine tosses on the trot!
Speaking ahead of the third test match in the South Africa’s tour of India, du Plesis was so frustrated about the toss that he talked about sending someone else to the toss.
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“Probably I will send somebody else to the toss tomorrow, I’ll give you that, because my record so far hasn’t been great, and then if we put big runs on the board in the first innings, that’s where we need to start,” Du Plessis said.
South Africa have lost the first two test matches of the tour, in Vizag and Pune. With the final test match starting at Ranchi on Saturday, Du Plessis has asked his players for improved performances with the bat when they face India in the third and final Test starting in Ranchi on Saturday.
“We need to put big runs on the board in the first innings,” Faf du Plessis had said while addressing a press conference on Thursday. “When you get runs in the first innings anything from there is possible. For us first innings runs will be vital and then anything could happen in the second innings,” he added.
Faf is stepping away from toss duties, who will it be then? ⚪ #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/OmjAAKOBxN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 18, 2019
Du Plessis also asked his batsmen to learn from their Indian counterparts and put up a much-improved show in the final Test.
“If we get runs in the first innings, then anything from there is possible,” Du Plessis said. “The pitch looks a little bit drier, a little bit crustier, so first-innings runs are going to be vital, and then anything is possible in the second innings.”
Although, the series is foregone conclusion, there are points for the ICC World Test Championship to be played for and the game should be far from a dead rubber.