Have Proteas done the right thing by leaving Faf out for the T20 World Cup?

Faf du Plessis [PC: Twitter]

The last that anyone, whether a South African or a non South African, saw Francois Faf du Plessis in a T20 international was on the first of December, 2020.

In that contest, one South Africa lost by no fewer than nine wickets, Faf du Plessis scored 52 off just thirty seven deliveries (his strike rate was north of 140). An important knock, the right-hander's ferocious hitting anchored his side to 191, never a bad score.

However, some monumental hitting by Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler spoiled the party for the Proteas.

In the end, at Cape Town, Faf dug in when few others in his side did. Not that this was some random event. As a matter of factly, in 2020, which must again be reminded, was the last that Faf played T20I's for South Africa, he didn't fare badly.

In fact, he did much better than cricketers who are even considered stalwarts by some: Quinton de Kock and David Miller.

Scoring 165 runs from just six T20I's that year, Faf du Plessis struck two fifties, emerged unbeaten in one of the innings and conjured a cultured batting average of 33.

At the same time, two of his very popular teammates, de Kock and David Miller managed 285 runs from nine innings at 31 (bat. avg) and 100 runs from six innings (bat. avg 25).

Faf du Plessis not only scored more runs than a batsman nicknamed "Killer Miller," he also hit his T20I runs at a significantly higher strike rate than the lefthander; 130 plus, when compared to Miller's 120.

Rather interestingly, Faf had averaged 49 in T20 internationals the year before 2020, wherein he scored 99 runs from just two contests. More specifically, he strike rate was nearly 166 a year before as 73 of his T20I runs in 2018 came off just forty four deliveries.

Now, why these may not be considered 'eye popping' numbers especially by a Virat Kohli purist or an AB fanatic, Faf's numbers are clearly good and respect worthy. They ideally warrant him greater affection from the world media than given.

More importantly, they augur a strong case that must be put forth to the Cricket South Africa authorities, who right ahead of the 2022 T20 world cup, have left out the man.

That man who still has the potential and desire to deliver for South Africa.

While at 38, Faf's not getting any younger, it can also be argued that his 2018- 2020 results in international cricket for his country were significantly-not marginally- ahead of other luminaries of Protea cricket.

How many athletes aged 34, which was Faf's age in 2018, strike the white ball powerfully at a rate touching 141?

For a team that is perhaps everyone's favourite secret team and carries so much regard from around the globe, here's a question to Cricket South Africa:

Does it really regard Francois Faf du Plessis' contributions?

Did it, truth be known, take into consideration arguably the most unrecognized feat of Faf's, when it came to the 2019 ODI world cup? 

That very fact that in a tournament where there was no Steyn and AB, where Amla, Duminy and Miller's form was a peril nightmare, it was Faf who put on the runs for South Africa?

It's not T20 cricket alone where Faf excelled for his country.

In a world where pretty much a sneeze by Virat Kohli or a selfie by Babar Azam or Steve Smith inspire headlines and dominant discussions, Faf has made cricket a level-playing field by few missed opportunities and lots of runs in ODI cricket.

How?

Not once starting 2017, 2018 and 2019, did Faf du Plessis manage a batting average shy of or under 60 in ODI competitive cricket.

Faf du Plessis was consistent in ODIs [PC: Twitter]

If that statistic doesn't find place in one of modern cricket's most under-reported facts, then what will?

Know the worst? Few seem to care about Faf's fantastic numbers, which are conveniently shoved under the carpet as if in standing tall for South Africa he committed some heinous crime.

Here's the truth: the wearer of big muscles and that enigmatic smile scored 905 ODI runs (avg 60) from 18 innings in 2017. Next year, he scored 434 runs from just 8 innings (avg 62) and finally, in 2019, after which he didn't get even one chance to represent the Proteas, Faf scored 814 runs from 19 games.

Interestingly, not one among the troika of Root, Williamson and Smith scored runs at an average higher than Faf's whether we speak of 2017 or 2018 or even 2019 (ODI's).

Yet, Faf's been shown his true place under the sun; which isn't amid the side, but astray from the national colours.

This, it ought to be noted, is the treatment extended to a giant of Cricket that cricket itself seems to care less about, let's not even get to his country.

Faf actually captained the Proteas in all forms of cricket and assumed the leadership role during a period marked by extensive chaos and rebuilding: summer, 2018, when AB was no longer a national cricketer.

Faf's record as captain glitters amid the gloom that envelops the room given a lack of recognition for what he's done.

So, how's that?

Collectively, Faf's registered 70 wins from 115 matches for his nation, which is fundamentally, a win percentage of over 60.

He's that colour to the Rainbow nation that the nation itself isn't willing to register.

Anyhow, now it's too late; Faf's been left out of the squad. Maybe, despite all he did, he never really was in contention for being picked as a player, which is when his record as captain is as impressive as his bulky numbers.

But do you know what the bone of contention regarding Faf du Plessis is- he's that last lion of South Africa whose very roar South Africa remained deaf to.

A rather impressive collection of talents, think de Kock, Pretorius, Nortje, Miller, Rabada and Markram and even Malan would have relished some Faf for company.

And that's a fact. However, what's fiction is what Mr. Graeme Smith said in 2021 that Faf's a free agent and wasn't picked for his irregularity in representing South Africa in world cups; Faf played in the 2015, 2016, 2019 world cups for his country.

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