Faf du Plessis: Back-to-back bubble life not sustainable
Faf du Plessis has stated that staying in a bubble for two consecutive series has its own impact on the players’ mental well-being but he asserted that still playing cricket is better than staying at home.
Faf du Plessis was a part of the Sri Lanka series at home after partaking in the Indian Premier League where the players were in a hard bubble. The team has now flown to Pakistan for a tour with a series against Australia in line. Things might get rough there and du Plessis warned the same, saying back-to-back bubble life might have its own toll.
“We understand that this is a very tough season and a tough challenge for a lot of people out there, but if it’s back-to-back bubble life, things would become a big challenge,” du Plessis said during a virtual news conference on Saturday, reported AFI.
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“The main priority is to play cricket, to be out there doing what we love instead of being at home. So I think that still remains the most important thing. But I think there would definitely come a point where players would struggle with this (bubble),” du Plessis said.
Faf du Plessis further stated that with players without their family with them, it is a daunting exercise but he stated that he is still driven and motivated.
“If you look at a calendar of the last eight months, you’re looking at about four or five months in a bubble, which is a lot. For some of us (being) without family, it can get challenging. Right now, I’m still in a good place. I’m still feeling really motivated and driven, but I can only speak for myself.”
“I don’t think it’s possible to continue from bubble to bubble to bubble, I’ve seen and heard a lot of players talk about it. I don’t think it’s sustainable.”
Faf du Plessis unsure about pitch conditions
After practising at a stadium close to the team hotel for the last four days, the South African team got to practise at the National Stadium for the first time on Saturday where they will play the first Test.
On being asked about the conditions on offer, the former South African skipper stated that they are totally unsure about the conditions so far, thus preparing for all kinds of wickets that can be dished out for them.
“I think that’s possibly the biggest thing that we are unsure about,” he said.
“As a team, we try to prepare for everything and anything, overprepare, spin conditions, reverse swinging ball. if I have to call it, I probably said I think that wickets will be a bit more subcontinent like than it used to be back then (in 2007), so spinners would probably be more a little bit more in the game.”