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Faf: We’ll let the cricket do the talking

Cape Town - South African Test skipper Faf du Plessis said the Proteas will distance themselves from on-field banter, as they prepare for their first pink ball Test match.

The Proteas arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday with interim skipper Du Plessis speaking to the media about the current Australian team and whether this tour will be different for the tourists.

During South Africa's last Test series in Australia in 2012, Graeme Smith's men won the third Test by 309 runs to claim the series 1-0.

"I have played against Australia now a lot of times and I think this (Australian) team is a little bit different than the team of old," Du Plessis told reporters in Adelaide, according to Cricket Australia’s website.

"The two of us play a similar brand of cricket now... we more let the cricket do the talking.”

He was referring to batsman AB de Villiers, who revealed that the limited overs tour to Australia in 2014 saw the Proteas endure the worst sledging he'd seen in his career.

Du Plessis went on to say that Australian cricket's sledging days are over under skipper Steve Smith.

"Sledging... it's not as important these days. It's respecting the opposition and trying to win the game of cricket," said Du Plessis.

"But now under Steve Smith they seem to play a different brand and a similar brand of cricket that we do."

The Proteas head into the series with momentum following a 5-0 ODI series whitewash against the Aussies at home.

But they will be without Test skipper De Villiers, who is sidelined with an elbow injury.

The first Test begins on November 3 in Perth, with the second Test in Hobart (November 12) and the final day-night Test in Adelaide (November 24).

Proteas Test squad for Australian tour:

Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Kyle Abbott (Warriors), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Stephen Cook (Highveld Lions), Quinton de Kock (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Dean Elgar (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Morné Morkel (Titans), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), Tabraiz Shamsi  (Titans), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras)

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