Did not indulge in ball tampering, insists du Plessis

South Africa were 89 for three after the first session on the opening day of the day-night third Test against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a bid to arrest their alarming form slump going into the final Test in Adelaide, Australia have made sweeping changes, something gratefully seized upon by the embattled Du Plessis as an indication of the home team’s struggles. He said, “I think it’s trying to get it out of your mind”.

Du Plessis was booed by the crowd as he walked out to bat, following a ball-tampering incident for which he was found guilty and fined, but cleared to play in the match.

“In fairness to both him and the ICC, this is an unprecedented case involving unique issues of policy, science and performance that need to be carefully considered at the highest levels within the game”, said CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat at a press-conference.

Not much time has passed since South Africa clinched the Test series with an emphatic win in Hobart but much has happened since then with the mintgate scandal engulfing the cricketing world. “Whether you shine the ball with a sweet in your mouth or whether you don’t see the sweet, and the sweet is still there, it’s exactly the same thing”, he said.

“I guess I knew what I had to work on really so I thought I responded pretty well in the Shield game here in Adelaide”, he said.

I believe he is talented enough for Test cricket, it’s just he’s showing himself to have a technical flaw in these conditions and a weakness against spin.

Steve Smith has now lost six Test tosses on the trot – the first Australia captain to do so since Joe Darling between 1899-1902.

South Africa have yet to announce its side for the Test, which starts at 2pm Adelaide time (2.30pm AEDT). But, having produced two sub-par (and that is being polite) performances, Steven Smith and his refurbished team face the challenge of preventing a rampant South Africa from achieving something which no cricket team has done in nearly 13 decades. “I’m hoping that cricketing sense will be prevail”.

A white mint has overshadowed South Africa’s bid for a series whitewash in Australia but the pink ball is what will determine the tourists’ fate in the dead rubber. Lacking runs, du Plessis has the opportunity of ending the tour on a personal high as well.

“(The controversy) has not been driven by the (Australia) cricketers at all. “I will probably just touch my finger like that and get a little bit of spit on it”, he added, with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

“It’s just such a grey area in the laws of cricket”, du Plessis said.