• Comical ending to Proteas’ pain

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    While the 3-0 series whitewash is certainly no laughing matter, there was a comical ending to the Proteas’ second innings in Ranchi.

    Lungi Ngidi was the last man out as he walloped a ball from Indian spinner Shahbaz Nadeem straight at non-striker Anrich Nortje.

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    South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, meanwhile, would like to continue as Test captain.

    The Proteas were trounced in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi, heightening suggestion that Du Plessis’ tenure as Test captain is nearing an end.

    ‘How I see my journey unfolding with this team is to help with the transition period. This period is to try and make that process a bit smoother, identifying the next leaders, identifying the next captains, working with them, and then when that time is right, that time will be right.’ said Du Plessis.

    ‘That’s something we spoke about before that wasn’t necessarily the case before.’

    The Proteas were without recent Test retirees Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn in India. Batsmn AB de Villiers and fast bowler Morne Morkel’s Test careers have also ended.

    The squad featured three players uncapped at Test level – wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen, spinner Senuran Muthusamy and fast bowler Anrich Nortje – before the series started. A fourth – all-rounder George Linde – was added prior to the third and final Test.

    ‘I found the tour really tough. We have had a very mature Test team for a while, guys that have played 30, 40 and more Test matches. Now you look in the dressing room and its five, six, seven, eight, 10 Tests,’ added Du Plessis.

    Photo: BackpagePix

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    SA CRICKET