South Africa pledge not to taunt Australia over tampering

AFP  |  Perth 

promised not to wind up over ball-tampering Sunday when they meet for the first time since this year's ill-fated Test series, when a cheating scandal plunged Australian into disgrace.

lost the Test series to and another against Pakistan, and crashed badly in a one-day series to England.

They returned home to a scathing independent review this week that slammed Australia for creating an "arrogant" and "controlling" atmosphere that fostered a win-at-all-costs attitude.

Faf du Plessis, who played in the 'sandpaper-gate' Test that culminated in lengthy bans for Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft, insisted his team won't dredge up the past.

"I don't think us as a team would go there," he told reporters. "It's got nothing to do with the -- it's in the past. For us, it's business as usual." South African fans laid into the Australians during the Test series, holding up signs mocking the team. One young supporter reportedly tried to get bowler to autograph a piece of sandpaper.

When South Africa toured Australia in 2016, du Plessis was fined for ball-tampering after he sucked on a mint and then shined the ball. He disputed the finding.

The Proteas have brought virtually their strongest team to Australia for the one-dayers in Perth, and Hobart, and a single Twenty20 clash on the While missing (finger) and JP Duminy (shoulder) for the tour, fast bowler is back and joins Kagiso Rabada, and in a formidable attack.

All-rounder also returns after recovering from a lower back injury, although South Africa's tour didn't start well with a four-wicket loss to a young Prime Minister's XI in on Wednesday.

After recent failures, Australia have dumped as one-day captain, with explosive batsman assuming the role.

Spin veteran Lyon has also been axed, along with all-rounder But fast bowlers and return from to spearhead the attack alongside

Finch said batsmen staying at the crease was a key focus leading into the series after recent capitulations.

"We've struggled with the bat for quite a while now and it's up to us guys who get first go of it in next Sunday against South Africa to start rewriting that last probably 18 months," he said.

"I think that when you have a bit of change in the side, it's about starting to build a really good dynamic and a really good chemistry within that side.

"We've been trying new things, we've been out in the nets for hours. You can't question it from that point of view. It's just about making sure that we start to build partnerships again."

Australia: (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Zampa South Africa: (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi,

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First Published: Fri, November 02 2018. 11:30 IST