PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 28: Faf du Plessis of South Africa raises his bat after his first test century during day 3 of the 1st Betway Test (WTC) match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park on December 28, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)
Faf du Plessis: 18th SA batsman to end Test career with average over 40
Faf du Plessis is the 18th South Africa batsman to call time on their Test career with an average of over 40.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 28: Faf du Plessis of South Africa raises his bat after his first test century during day 3 of the 1st Betway Test (WTC) match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park on December 28, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)
Faf du Plessis has called time on a Test career filled with highlights and intense challenges and joins an elite group of South Africa batsmen.
Du Plessis started his career with a strong bias towards the leg-side and many doubted his ability to become a Test regular.
Such was his technical quirk that du Plessis invented a frankenbox to protect his nether regions, which he called the Beast.
Meet the Beast
Du Plessis’ tendency to close the face of the bat to straighter balls never really left him, but his new super protector ensured he avoided the searing pain and the potential for serious injury.
“For those who don’t know I’m one of the guys who get hit in the nuts probably the most in the world,” Du Plessis said when explaining his invention.
“For those who do know, it’s a very, very painful thing to go through.
“It’s helped me a lot,” du Plessis said. “The first 56,000 times I got hit with two boxes it was too painful. Three now is perfect for me — it works. I’ve probably been hit in the nuts five times since I built The Beast and I’m pain free.”
Faf du Plessis: Making memories
Du Plessis’ top Test score was his recent 199 against Sri Lanka but he will probably be remembered most for his gritty 110 not out against Australia in Adelaide in 2012.
He was the Test skipper for a short but eventful period in Proteas’ Test history but was well-liked by his peers and the public alike.
South Africa batsmen with a Test average over 40 at retirement
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG Pollock | 1963-1970 | 23 | 41 | 4 | 2256 | 274 | 60.97 | 7 | 11 | 1 |
| JH Kallis | 1995-2013 | 165 | 278 | 39 | 13206 | 224 | 55.25 | 45 | 58 | 16 |
| AD Nourse | 1935-1951 | 34 | 62 | 7 | 2960 | 231 | 53.81 | 9 | 14 | 3 |
| AB de Villiers | 2004-2018 | 114 | 191 | 18 | 8765 | 278* | 50.66 | 22 | 46 | 8 |
| KC Bland | 1961-1966 | 21 | 39 | 5 | 1669 | 144* | 49.08 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| B Mitchell | 1929-1949 | 42 | 80 | 9 | 3471 | 189* | 48.88 | 8 | 21 | 3 |
| GC Smith | 2002-2014 | 116 | 203 | 13 | 9253 | 277 | 48.70 | 27 | 38 | 10 |
| HM Amla | 2004-2019 | 124 | 215 | 16 | 9282 | 311* | 46.64 | 28 | 41 | 13 |
| EJ Barlow | 1961-1970 | 30 | 57 | 2 | 2516 | 201 | 45.74 | 6 | 15 | 3 |
| G Kirsten | 1993-2004 | 101 | 176 | 15 | 7289 | 275 | 45.27 | 21 | 34 | 13 |
| DJ Cullinan | 1993-2001 | 70 | 115 | 12 | 4554 | 275* | 44.21 | 14 | 20 | 10 |
| EAB Rowan | 1935-1951 | 26 | 50 | 5 | 1965 | 236 | 43.66 | 3 | 12 | 4 |
| DJ McGlew | 1951-1962 | 34 | 64 | 6 | 2440 | 255* | 42.06 | 7 | 10 | 4 |
| HH Gibbs | 1996-2008 | 90 | 154 | 7 | 6167 | 228 | 41.95 | 14 | 26 | 11 |
| AG Prince | 2002-2011 | 66 | 104 | 16 | 3665 | 162* | 41.64 | 11 | 11 | 7 |
| GA Faulkner | 1906-1924 | 25 | 47 | 4 | 1754 | 204 | 40.79 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| HW Taylor | 1912-1932 | 42 | 76 | 4 | 2936 | 176 | 40.77 | 7 | 17 | 2 |
| F du Plessis | 2012-2021 | 69 | 118 | 14 | 4163 | 199 | 40.02 | 10 | 21 | 9 |
*Aiden Markram currently averages over 40 but has been excluded from this list as he is still active
