THE THING THAT MATTERS THE MOST IS FORM AND NOT THE FORMAT.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s One-Day International captain strongly feels that the 5 match series against the Aussies is going to be a very tough ask for the South African team in the absence of their master player AB de Villiers.

“For me, this is an extremely important series,” said du Plessis on Thursday (September 29). “I will never say that this is a stepping stone for the Test series or that the Tests are more important, this is a key home series for us. They are resting a few key bowlers which plays a big role in their one-day team and gives opportunities to younger guys but we know their main bowlers will be fresh come the Test series.

“This group of players will have to play well and make sure that we find some good form because that will play a role going to Australia,” he added.

“Form is important, it doesn’t matter the format you play, if you are in good form you can play any format of cricket. It’s important for the players who are in the Test matches to come away from this series with some confidence going to Australia.”

South Africa will be touring Australia for a test series in the upcoming month, so if they will be able to gain the flow from the beginning than obviously it will be a plus point for the team when they will be hosted by Australia as because playing in a foreign soil is always a tough ask for any player.

“The fear that he puts into the opposition, his name itself, there are a few guys around the world that have that effect,” said du Plessis of Steyn. “He has done well over a period of time and he puts some doubt into your head as the opposition. His skill and experience is something that you can’t get overnight. When Dale is 100%, fresh and wants to bowl quickly, he is a big asset to whatever team he plays in.”

Both the sides will be ready to apart their performances in the five ODIs played in Centurion, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, from September 30 to October 12.