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Cape Town - Proteas captain Faf du Plessis says Australia made a mistake to send an understrength team to South Africa for a one-day series in September and October.
SCORECARD: Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test
Du Plessis was speaking in Hobart on Tuesday after his team had taken an unassailable 2-0 Test series lead by beating Australia by an innings and 80 runs.
The one-day series in South Africa preceding the Test series was won 5-0 by the Proteas.
Du Plessis told Cricket Australia’s official website that the Aussie selectors made a mistake by opting to tour South Africa without their two best fast bowlers in Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
“I definitely think so,” said Du Plessis. “We came across here with a lot of confidence, we did expect a really tough challenge because it’s a different team and a full-strength team with two key players in Starc and Hazlewood (returning).
“Certainly, not facing them is better than facing them.
“The confidence from coming over five-nil has helped us a lot and I think it will be the same case going into that last Test match.
“We’re a confidence team and making sure we do the basics well and if we do that we’ll keep pressure on the Australian team.”
On Tuesday in Hobart, Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada led the rampage, with Abbott taking six for 77 and Rabada four for 34 as Australia capitulated to 161 all out.
