Faf steps down from captaining SA at all levels - tables turned

England's turn to make a skipper resign.

Here's a linky.

"Faf du Plessis has stepped down as captain of South Africa's Test and T20I sides with immediate effect. However, the 35-year-old remains fully committed to playing all three formats for the time being.

Du Plessis cited a need to give the next generation of leaders within the team a chance to develop as the reason for stepping down. Last month Quinton de Kock was named stand-in captain for the ODI series against England, with du Plessis being rested. Graeme Smith, South Africa's director of cricket, had then confirmed that the management was looking at de Kock as the permanent captain.

"This was one of the toughest decisions to make, but I remain fully committed to supporting Quinton, Mark [Boucher] and my team-mates as we continue to rebuild and re-align as a group," a Cricket South Africa (CSA) release quoted du Plessis as saying. "South African cricket has entered a new era. New leadership, new faces, new challenges and new strategies. I remain committed to play in all three formats of the game for now as a player, and will offer my knowledge and time to the new leaders of the team."

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Faff may not be in discussions about the top batsmen over the past ten years but few would have been tougher to dismiss when the chips were down.

His batting form has fallen off a cliff and I doubt he will play too many more Tests.

Faxit? Sounds like a ‘90s office instruction...

A decent if not great batsman, but a tough competitor who largely kept the wheels attached in a transitional era in Yarpie cricket. Last real link with the Smith era, so suppose it’s time for them to move on. Would be a tough ask for De Kock to be three-formats captain though, can you really do that in the franchise circus era?

And with that voice, even if he can't get into cricket commentary, a career in voiceovers awaits ...



[Deeper and huskier than any sled dog could dream of driving through the snowy wasteland:]

"IN A WORLD ...

where South African cricket FAILS to value its most HEROic champions ..."

Only Smith and Cronje have captained SA more times in Tests, which is quite remarkable, given he didn’t seem to be in the job that long.

Faf off Faf.

When will Faf next play?