Proteas Cricket tour of India

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 21: Faf du Plessis (capt) of South Africa during day 1 of the 2nd Castle Lager Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on February 21, 2019 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

Faf du Plessis | 10 things to know about the former Proteas Test star

How much do you really know about former national skipper Faf du Plessis who announced his retirement from Test cricket?

Proteas Cricket tour of India

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 21: Faf du Plessis (capt) of South Africa during day 1 of the 2nd Castle Lager Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on February 21, 2019 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

Faf du Plessis announced his shock retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, 17 February following a 2-0 series defeat the Proteas suffered against Pakistan.

GONE FISHING | QUINTON DE KOCK TAKES A “MENTAL BREAK” FROM CRICKET

But how much do you really know about the former national skipper?

Below, 10 things that will make you feel smarter in your mate’s cricket WhatsApp group …

READ | CSA SCRAMBLES TO KEEP PROTEAS BUSY, CONFIRMS TOUR OF IRELAND

1. He was born Francois du Plessis on 13 July 1984 in Pretoria.

2. Faf du Plessis played 69 Tests for South Africa, the first of which came in November 2012 against Australia and the last in February 2021 against Pakistan.

3. He played his domestic cricket for only one franchise, the Titans.

4. Faf du Plessis represented two teams in the IPL: Chennai Super Kings and the Rising Pune Supergiants.

5. He played for the Paarl Rocks in the Mzansi Super League.

6. Faf du Plessis scored 4 163 runs in Test cricket at an average of 40.02 and a highest score of 199.

7. He scored 10 centuries, 21 fifties and took 63 catches.

8. Faf du Plessis has also played 143 ODIs and 50 T20Is to date for the Proteas.

9. He was named skipper of all three formats of the game when AB de Villiers stepped down from the role in August 2017.

10. Faf du Plessis was twice found guilty of ball tampering during his Test career. The first time was “zip-gate” at The Oval in 2013 and the second occasion took place in Hobart in 2016 when he was caught rubbing what looked like a “lolly” or mint on the ball.

READ | CRICKET IS FULL OF CRAZY STATS BUT THIS ONE TAKES THE BIRTHDAY CAKE!