Pink ball Test awaits du Plessis at site of 2012 debut

After initial hesitation about playing in a day-night Test, South Africa are now anxious to begin preparations for their first fixture with the pink ball that will take place in Adelaide at the end of November. Although the match is the last in the three-Test tour, it is foremost on South Africa’s mind because their first practice match in Australia which starts on Saturday, will be played under lights and stand-in captain Faf du Plessis is excited about taking on the unknown.

“I haven’t faced or thrown the pink ball around so it’s all pretty new to me. It will be nice to see how it plays,” du Plessis said. “I know some of the guys have pink balls in their kit, especially the bowlers. We’ve asked around a little bit and read the stuff other teams have been saying about the pink ball. I’ve got no expectations of it. I’m going in without any experience of it at all.”

With a ball that is expected to swing and conditions that should favour seamers, South Africa will likely go into the match without their most experienced batsman and will also need to prepare for that. AB de Villiers was ruled out of the tour after undergoing elbow surgery and even though he is holding out slim hope of being able to recover in time to play that game, du Plessis played down suggestions that de Villiers will rejoin them for the match.

“I don’t think so. He’s just had an operation. We’re not expecting it,” du Plessis said. “If it …

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