Faf not sure who’s on top in Adelaide Test

South Africa’s cricket captain Faf du Plessis speaks at a news conference before the third cricket test against Australia in Adelaide.

The Adelaide crowd booed him onto the field, with du Plessis having been controversially found guilty of ball tampering in the lead-up to the Test, a charge that could have seen him suspended.

The skipper ended a week of controversy in the best possible fashion, winning the toss and rescuing the visitors after they slipped to 3-44.

Du Plessis, batting at five, was the sole South African to effectively counter the pink ball, which swung significantly.

“I am personally aware of the pervasiveness of this issue”. As the innings went on, it disappeared a bit.

“I was extremely motivated today”. I don’t believe shining is wrong. “There’s two ways of looking at it, either ball-shining or ball-tampering”.

“When you think of Australian cricket teams of past, to see the changes now, that brings pleasure to see what we’re doing”, du Plessis said. “To get through in the manner that I did makes me really proud”.

In a statement, the ICC reinforced that under the laws of cricket “a player should not use artificial substances to shine the ball”.

Australia captain Steve Smith said his players hadn’t been critical of du Plessis because “we, along with every other team around the world, shine the ball the same way”.

Du Plessis, who put the row behind him to score a gritty century Thursday in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide, has warned authorities have opened a “can of worms”. “This series has been disappointing the way it has gone for us but I’m actually excited about the young guys coming into the group”.

The Australians said the tactic had got under their skin.

It was yet another crucial knock by du Plessis at the Adelaide ground where four years ago his defiant 376-ball unbeaten knock of 110 denied Australia victory to earn the Proteas a backs-to-the-wall draw.

But Hazlewood couldn’t unsettle a determined du Plessis.

David Warner, who had just returned to the field after receiving treatment for a shoulder complaint, was not eligible to open the innings for the hosts as he was required to spend 6 minutes more on field before it was Australia’s turn to open the innings.

“Yesterday was the hearing and the verdict was that I was guilty”.

Matt Renshaw, the 20-year-old English-born opener, was at the crease with less than an hour to play on his first day in test cricket.

Du Plessis’ tactics annoyed Australia, according to Josh Hazlewood.

“They’re going to be up for the fight, up for the challenge”, Smith said. It’s just one of those things.

“The way he (Khawaja) adapted to the situation, he did a great job”, Hazlewood said.