Faf du Plessis rested for ODI series against England

The first match takes place at Newlands on Friday, with South Africa already missing Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius due to injury even before news of du Plessis’ absence came through

South Africa have opted to rest Faf du Plessis from their squad for the three-match ODI series against England.

The first match takes place at Newlands on Friday, with the Proteas already missing Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius due to injury even before news of du Plessis’ absence came through.

The 36-year-old former captain retired from Test cricket earlier this year and has endured a heavy recent schedule, having taken part in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings, before joining Peshawar Zalmi for the final stages of the Pakistan Super League.

Despite finding himself on the wrong side of a whitewash in the T20I series that preceded the upcoming ODIs, du Plessis was in fine form; he passed fifty twice in three games.

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He joins Rabada, who suffered an adductor strain earlier this week, in missing from South Africa’s 18-man squad for the 50-over games. Their absences – as well as that of Pretorius, who suffered a hamstring problem in the build-up to the T20Is – mean that just six members of last year’s World Cup squad are involved.

Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks and Pite van Biljon have also been released from the group to return to domestic cricket.

South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock (c), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne

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