All-rounder JP Duminy spot in the South African playing XI has come under scanner after a string of poor performances in the Test format. The 33-year old just managed to get 17 runs in the first Test against England at the historic Lord’s cricket ground. He also failed to contribute with the ball for the team’s cause. Particularly, Duminy’s dismissal on the stroke of tea on Day Four opened the floodgates for the visitors who later succumbed to an embarrassing 221-run defeat.
After missing the opening Test due to the birth of his first child, skipper Faf du Plessis will be joining the Proteas squad for the second Test at Trent Bridge which begins on July 14. Du Plessis feels Duminy is under immense pressure due to poor form. That observation is vastly different from the support du Plessis had offered in the recent past, often saying Duminy looked at his best in training and it was only a matter of time before he translated that into match-day performances.
However, Duminy’s batting recent form has forced his ‘good friend’ du Plessis to admit that the southpaw is not doing enough to secure his place in the South African XI. The left-hander has not crossed the 40 runs in his last eight innings.
The skipper also insisted that the final decision on Duminy has not been taken and the team would consider a few other things before coming to any conclusion. He also added that Duminy is a crucial part of their current senior team and that he is well aware of the fact that he needs to score runs to keep his place in the national side.
"JP will be the first guy to say he knows he needs to score runs for this team and it's no different for anyone else," Sport24 quoted du Plessis as saying.
"He is desperate to do well as anyone in that position. You want to try and score runs every time you go out there. He knows at the end of the day that it's about running," he added.
Du Plessis further insisted that Duminy always keeps team's interest above himself and is always desperate to do well at that position than anyone else.
"He understands that if it has to come to a position where there is someone else that needs to be looked at... he will be the first to acknowledge [that]. He is a crucial part of our senior player group and he will always put the team interests above himself so yes, he will be the first to acknowledge that," du Plessis concluded.
(With Agency Inputs)
