PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Madibaz batsman Jean du Plessis returned from South Africa’s U19 tour of England with another valuable block of cricketing education firmly in place as he continues his burgeoning career.
Since playing in their Plettenberg Bay backyard with his father and brother using a plastic bat, the 19-year-old accounting student at Nelson Mandela University’s George campus has been given a taste of cricket in the upper echelons.
Earlier this year he was in the national squad that played in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand and he recently enjoyed a memorable trip to England.
Although beaten in the two Youth test matches, the SA U19 team fought back to record a rare series victory over England, winning the first two one-day internationals of a three-match series. The third game was washed out without a ball being bowled.
First time since 2003
Du Plessis said it had been the first time an SA U19 team had a won a series in England since 2003 when Proteas players AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis were in the team.
Du Plessis felt the tour of England was important in furthering his development as a cricketer. “Because of all the cricketing minds around you, it is such a good environment to speed up an individual’s learning process… Embracing the pressure is also something you are quickly forced to learn," the young cricketing star said.
The right-hander, who went to Plettenberg Bay Primary before matriculating at Glenwood House in George, has been a regular player at representative level since making the SWD U11 team.
Highlights of his career
He said one of the highlights of his fledgling career was the first televised game he played in the Africa Cup Twenty20 competition. “I got to play alongside and against franchise and national team players like Dane Vilas and Lungi Ngidi, so that is something that sticks in my mind. Getting the call-up to the SA U19 side was extra special and being a part of the World Cup was amazing.
“Being exposed to that kind of pressure is such a valuable learning experience and scoring a 50 in the first game I played at the World Cup will always be something to remember," he said.
Du Plessis said he had been fortunate to be mentored by a number of coaches who had invested much time in his development.
His immediate plans are to complete his studies and to perform at a high level for the SWD provincial side. "In the long term my dream has always been to play for the Proteas, but I will just have to take it step by step and put in the performances to work my way through the ranks.”
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