Faf du Plessis has been SA’s Test captain for only eight matches, but already the defining moments of his tenure are mounting. One of them came with eight balls remaining at the Wanderers last Thursday, the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka, when JP Duminy’s fine 155 ended with an edge to second slip. What to do? Du Plessis, next in according to the scorecard, might have taken guard himself. Or he might have sent in Vernon Philander, whose CV includes stints as a nightwatchman. Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Wayne Parnell and Kagiso Rabada were Du Plessis’ other choices. Surely he would not pick on the debutant fast bowler, Duanne Olivier. Hashim Amla, who was regrouping at the crease after sharing a stand of 292 with Duminy, also did not think so. "I was very surprised," said Amla, about looking up to spot the less-than-familiar figure of Olivier striding out to join him — and after playing 100 Tests around the world he has seen just about everything there is to see on ...
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