Du Plessis warning to England debutant Westley
New England batsman Tom Westley has been promised a debut to remember when he makes his first Test appearance in Thursday's third Test against South Africa at The Oval.
The 28-year-old Essex player, batting at number three in place of the injured Gary Balance, will take confidence from his century for the England Lions in their recent warm-up game against the tourists.
But South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has warned him the game at The Oval will be a whole new experience.
"Well done to him for getting a 100 previously but I can promise you the intensity of a warm-up game versus a Test match is totally different," Du Plessis said on Wednesday.
"He will be playing against a different attack."
One of the biggest threats Westley faces will be 22-year-old paceman Kagiso Rabada, back in the South Africa team having missed their 340-run second Test win at Trent Bridge through suspension, after swearing at England's Ben Stokes in the opening match at Lord's.
"I'm excited to see what KG is going to bring to this game," said Du Plessis.
"With the time off, as a player it makes you a little bit hungry again, and the fact that we have done well in the previous game will add to his motivation."
"If the weather is like this, will be a bit bowling friendly so I assume he will be raring to get that ball in his hand."
The match at The Oval will be the venue's 100th Test. The four game series is currently tied at 1-1.
Roland-Jones to make England Test debut at The Oval
Middlesex right-arm seamer Toby Roland-Jones will make his England Test debut against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday after Mark Wood was ruled out with a heel injury.
The 29-year-old has one limited overs cap for England, and captain Joe Root said Roland-Jones would be keen to take his chance in the third game of the four-match series, which is level at 1-1.
"He has been banging on the door for a while," Root said.
"He looked good in the lead-up to the first two matches in practice and he's had a good couple of years. He'll be desperate to show what he can do with the red ball."
Roland-Jones's Middlesex team mate Steven Finn, whose last England Test appearance was in October last year, has been called up to the squad as standby.
Another player making his test debut alongside Roland-Jones is Essex batsman Tom Westley, replacing Gary Balance, who broke his finger during the second Test at Trent Bridge.
"It's great for these guys to get their opportunity, and hopefully they'll get off to a flying start," Root said.
After a convincing win in his first Test as England skipper, Root's captaincy came in for criticism after England were thrashed by 340 runs in the second Test, and he said the team were eager to make amends.
"The most important thing is that we learn from the experience and make sure we improve," Root said.
"It's a settled dressing room that is desperate to get better and know that we are a better side than we performed last week."
"We have to bounce back strongly and it's important we put in a strong performance."
The match will be the 100th Test at the Oval -- making it the fourth ground to reach that milestone after Lord's, Melbourne and Sydney.
