Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has demanded a wicket more suited to his pace attack in the second Test against Bangladesh.

‘Hopefully there will be a bit more grass on the pitch in Bloemfontein,’ he said. ‘I am expecting more bounce and carry.’

He praised his pace bowlers for the work they had done on ‘a flattie’, in Potchefstroom, but said he wanted to ensure that the Bloemfontein groundsmen would provide something more helpful for the match, which starts on Friday.

‘I was really disappointed with the conditions. They were not what we asked for,’ he said. ‘I am on the groundsman’s case [in Bloemfontein].’

The Proteas will approach the match with a weakened attack after Morne Morkel was ruled out for four to six weeks with a side strain, joining Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Chris Morris on the casualty list.

‘The loss of Morne is really disappointing. He’s bowling a touch fuller and he’s hitting the stumps. He’s reached that level as a bowler that everyone expected him to be at.’

Despite the conditions, which many felt were more in line with Bangladesh’s home grounds, the Proteas pulled off a dramatic 333-run win in the first session of play on the final day.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took 3-33 and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj 4-25 as the tourists lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs in less than an hour and a half.

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