Defending Big Bash League (BBL) champion Perth Scorchers have roped in former South African skipper Faf du Plessis as an overseas replacement for Laurie Evans. He is expected to be available for seven games.
Evans’ contract was terminated after he came positive dope test earlier this month. Meanwhile, Du Plessis did not get picked up in the original draft where he was a platinum player. An unforeseen event has opened doors for Faf du Plessis who will look to make the opportunity count.
The Proteas legend sounded excited to join the franchise for the first seven games before he returns home for the SA20. On joining the franchise, he said, as quoted by the franchise’s official website:
“I’m really excited to be signing with Perth Scorchers. I think the first thing that jumps to mind is that Perth are four-time champions, which is very impressive. Any player who plays around the world wants to win competitions, so it’s a great franchise to be part of.”
He has played in several T20 leagues, including the IPL, across the globe and would like to bring his experience to the table in the upcoming season and adapt quickly to the fast and bouncy track in Perth.
Get ready for fireworks! 🎇 @faf1307 signs for the Scorchers! 🇿🇦🔥 #MADETOUGH #BBL12 https://t.co/uiFXHByhW3 pic.twitter.com/6brt5V3HQQ
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) November 30, 2022
“I’m looking forward to playing in Perth this summer” – Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis admitted that he is looking forward to learning from his colleagues and sharing his experiences with them.
“I’m also keen to come in and learn. I think it’s important to learn from other people and organisations, and find out why they’re successful. I’m also excited to share my experiences and the things I’ve learned, and hopefully that can be a great combination,” he added.
“Looking from afar, it looks like Optus is probably the quickest wicket in the world. Watching the World Cup, the bounce looked very, very steep. Obviously, the wickets in South Africa and Australia are quite similar with more pace and bounce than spin, so it is something I’ve grown up with and I’m looking forward to playing in Perth this summer,” he concluded.
"See you at #TheFurnace"🔥
💬 @faf1307#MADETOUGH #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/XSQOSFHrVw— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) November 30, 2022
In the 311 T20 games he has played across the format he has scored 8074 runs at an average of 31.05 and a strike rate of 130.85 which includes four centuries. He has previously represented the Melbourne Renegades in this tournament.
Phil Salt and Faf should complement each other well at the top of the order. The team will look for consistent starts from the two of them in order to retain their title. Du Plessis will look to add more memorable knocks in Australia in the upcoming edition of the BBL.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
