It is really tough time for Steve Smith to be in now, says Faf du Plessis

Team South Africa registered their biggest win over Australia since the former’s reinstatement in world cricket. They beat Australia by 322 runs in the third Test of the four match series to go 2-1 up. South African skipper Faf du Plessis was certainly a very pleased man after the win. However, he found himself in a rather unusual position in the post match press conference.

Instead of getting questions about his team’s performance, Faf du Plessis saw questions coming in from the journalists about the ‘sandpaper gate’ of the Australian side. The Aussies used foul tactics to tamper the ball in the game. Interestingly, in November 2016, du Plessis was also blamed by the media for using his candy stick to shine the ball during the tour to Australia.

Commenting on the same, the South African skipper noted that the two things are totally different. Furthermore, he noted that he is not the best person to comment on the tactics used by the Australian side and let the administrators take a look in the matter. Furthermore, he sympathized with Steve Smith, the Australian captain, and admitted that it indeed is a tough time for him.

“Ball shining versus ball tampering is two different situations, and one is more serious than the other. It’s difficult for me to give an answer which I think is right. It’s so difficult to say which is right and which is wrong. Obviously he is trying to take responsibility, so there is right in that. There is also right in holding other people responsible for their own actions,” Faf du Plessis quoted.

“I can understand it’s a really tough time for him to be in now. The situation I was in was really difficult for me because people were attacking me, my personality and my character and I felt it was wrong, it wasn’t fair. I don’t know how he feels but I imagine it is a really tough time,” he added further.

‘Bizarre, crazy, ridiculous’

Speaking further on the same note, Faf du Plessis remarked that the series has been bizarre and ridiculous thus far. Despite the fact that the two teams have played cricket of the highest order, all the headlines are bagged by unwanted controversies.

“It has been bizarre, crazy, ridiculous. We joke about it but it’s literally like a soap opera. There’s something happening every day. The two captains have both said it is a shame because this has been an incredible series between two strong teams. Apart from today, it has been a very evenly-matched series, amazing to watch. But there are way too many things happening away from the game that is taking the shine off,” he remarked.

On Steve Smith’s ban

Furthermore, Faf du Plessis admitted that the loss of Steve Smith would be a big one for the visitors. Due to the ball tampering allegations, Steve Smith has been handed a one match ban while Cameron Bancroft has been given 3 demerit points. Du Plessis believes that Australia will certainly bounce back as a team and overcome tough times like this one.

“It’s almost like losing two players in one because he’s[Smith] is such a strong batter. I also feel his leadership is good for the team so he’ll be a big loss for them,” the South African skipper conceded.

“But we know Australia are a very proud nation and we expect them to come back, trying to do something special again. But the tank is probably not as big as it would be with all the stuff happening away from the field, so mentally it’s a difficult time,” he added.

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