Cricket Career
du Plessis was given a 6-month contract with Lancashire for the 2008 season starting in April as a Kolpak player after impressing the board with good performances in the local Nottinghamshire leagues for Mansfield Hosiery Mills Cricket Club and in the Lancashire League for Todmorden. Du Plessis started his Lancashire account by scoring 55 against Durham UCCE before being dismissed by opening bowler Foster. Following his six month stint with Lancashire, du Plessis signed a new three-year deal with the club. Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson praised du Plessis' fielding, saying "if there's a better fielder in county cricket I've not seen him this season". In March 2010, it was announced that du Plessis would no longer be allowed to play for Lancashire as a Kolpak player after changes to the Kolpak rules. Peter Moores, who took over as the club's coach at the start of the 2009 season, rued the loss and said "Not only is Faf a very talented cricketer, but during his two years at Lancashire was lauded by everyone in English cricket for his fielding brilliance. His positive energy and enthusiastic approach to the job at hand will be sorely missed and I speak on behalf of everyone in the dressing room when I thank Faf for his unwavering commitment and his contribution to the club and its supporters". In 2011, he was signed by the 2010 IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings for US$120,000 at the Indian Premier League player auction.
Along with Jonathan Vandiar, Dean Elgar, and Ethi Mbhalati, du Plessis was one of four uncapped players to be named in South Africa's 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup. He was named one of the five South Africa Cricket Annual's Players Of The Year in 2011.
du Plessis had a very successful season with the Chennai Super Kings scoring 398 runs in IPL 2012.
Francois made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia at Adelaide in 2012 as the number 6 batsman; due to the unfortunate injury and unavailability of JP Duminy. He scored 188 runs in the match and was selected as Man of the match for his resilient performance that ultimately led to the match being drawn and the series being square before the third and final test. He had scored 78 from 159 before being dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus in the 1st innings, giving a 93-run 8th wicket partnership with injured Jacques Kallis (58 from 93). du Plessis subsequently was the last man to be dismissed, taking the South African score to 388 in reply to Australia's 550. In the 2nd innings, he scored a resilient match-saving 110* (from 376 balls), a marathon knock which spanned 466 minutes to save the defeat. He again gave 99-run 6th wicket partnership with injured Jacques Kallis and together they ensured that South Africa ensure a draw on the 5th day.
In the next test at Perth, he scored a resilient 78* (from 142 balls) to take his team's score to 225 in the 1st innings, from 75/6 with able support from Robin Peterson (31 off 45), Vernon Philander (30 from 54) and last man Morne Morkel (17 from 15).
On 12th December 2012, he was named captain of the South African T20 team for three matches against New Zealand.
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