Faf: There are no guarantees at World Cup
The Proteas skipper also acknowledges that he and his teammates can't deny a troubled history at the tournament.
Australia’s Aaron Finch (L) and South Africa’s Faf du Plessis (R) take part in a captains press conference ahead of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in London on May 23, 2019. – The 2019 Cricket World Cup, being hosted in England and Wales, starts on May 30, 2019. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP)
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis acknowledged his team’s troubled history at the World Cup, but said it was something the current squad had no control over and as long as they produce their best cricket over the next eight weeks, he will be content.
“We can’t control history, either the past or the future,” Du Plessis said in London at the official captains’ press conference.
“I felt there were some really good signs in 2015. I really enjoyed some of the cricket we played towards the end of that tournament.
“We were fantastic against Sri Lanka and it was a great game in the semifinal against New Zealand. They were just better than us on the day and if that happens, you can still hold your head high.
“It’s okay if the opposition plays better than you.
“The guys that we have here, in comparison to our previous World Cup squads, are a lot younger.
“There are some experienced players who have been to World Cups before, but this is really an exciting opportunity for the younger guys.
“But there are no guarantees because there are 10 high-quality teams in this tournament.”
With 50-over cricket having entered a phase in which batsmen are extremely dominant, Du Plessis reiterated his belief that the team with the best bowling attack would win the World Cup.
“Batsmen are so favoured at the moment that I really want to see how all bowlers with x-factor – really good bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, exciting spinner Rashid Khan and Pat Cummins – go.
“There are a few hot bowling attacks around right now and I think bowlers will win matches.
“The pitches are good, so batsmen are generally going to be able to score runs.
“But towards the end of the tournament, I think you’ll see the teams coming through that are doing really well with the ball.
“It’s very important for captains to have wicket-taking resources, the bowlers will play pivotal roles.
“But boundaries will come and then the captains have to make sure they keep their boys calm.
“But I believe our attack is capable of taking wickets on flat pitches,” Du Plessis said.
South Africa’s bowling received an accolade from an unlikely source when Australian captain Aaron Finch was asked which one opposing player he would like to have in his side.
“I would love to have KG Rabada. He just provides so much with the ball and a whole lot of energy. He’s a superstar,” Finch said.
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