What is the most appropriate outfit for facing 11 hostile Australians?
You have more in common with Faf du Plessis than you think.
The incident took place almost five years ago, but is still in folklore.
During the first of four Test matches between Steve Smith's Australians and Du Plessis's South Africans, on-field verbal abuse was directed at each other.
On the fourth day, tea was served. Markram and de Kock were trying to keep the Test alive.
Du Plessis was cooling off in the shower when he heard a commotion in the dressing room.
He wrapped a towel around his body and went to investigate what was happening.
David Warner was making a lot of noise at De Kock. The players on both sides played a role in keeping the violence at bay. Du Plessis' bare chest and shoulders calmed the situation.
This is an example of a cricket life recounted by Du Plessis in his book.
A series of first-hand accounts from a 10 year career is not a traditional tell-all.
Du Plessis says his story is about failure I wanted to not write a cricket book. If that was the goal, I wouldn't have begun.
I want to write a book about leadership and relationships. This is about something. I wanted to make something that people could relate to.
They may see me as an elite athlete and cricket captain, but I was a person who was filled with self-doubt. That's okay.
I wanted to give people something they could say "I know what that feels like". Even if they aren't cricket fans, I hope this connects with them.
Warner is one of the main villains in the piece. The first flashpoint of a volatile series that would be the highlight of Du Plessis' four-year tenure as captain was the incident during the Durban Test.
He says that Australia wanted to intimidate them. We had to fight for ourselves. The way we fought back helped turn the series around.
In the second match of the series in Gqeberha, Kagiso Rabada claimed 11 kills in the match, and the game was won by the home team. There is a window into Du Plessis' mind.
The former, a fast bowler, was frequently hugged and kissed by Du Plessis, who wanted to show that it's ok for even so-called 'Alpha' men to show physical affection with other men.
Another important person is de Villiers. He was a childhood friend of Du Plessis.
Du Plessis admits to beingjealous of De Villiers sometimes.
He found comfort in his own journey, one that took a long time to reach the top of his sport.
They aren't as close as they used to be. A team that had lost several players in a short period of time was destabilised by the sudden retirement of de Villiers.
The forces of Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla were waning by this point. A late re-entry to the squad was sought by De Villiers. The request was turned down by Du Plessis.
They didn't pay much attention to this when the third Test of the series against Australia kicked off. The momentum shifted by that time.
With South Africa once again in control, a young man was caught on camera putting a piece of paper down his pants.
In the book, Du Plessis sympathizes with Smith, a captain and player that has Du Plessis' admiration.
Warner is a separate issue.
He was a bully. I don't have time for people who bully.
Du Plessis isn't throwing rocks from a house. He doesn't try to downplay his troubles.
There was 'Zipgate', where he was found guilty of rubbing the ball on his pants against Pakistan, and 'Mintgate', where he was seen applying saliva and a mint to the ball.
He admits he's not perfect. I haven't claimed to be. I have never been the most skilled player.
Hard work and mental toughness are what got me to where I am. I think I've been able to control myself and take myself to places that are beyond my ability.
He remembers a time when his calm exterior melted under the bright lights of centre stage, but the best example of this is his 110 not out off 373 balls to save a Test inAdelaide on debut.
The quarter-finals of the World Cup took place. South Africa were on their way to their target.
"As confident as any man could be", as Du Plessis says, he walks out to the Mirpur cricket ground with his team on top of the score.
Du Plessis was nervous about his first ball. He called for a single when his second ball was nudging towards the middle of the ground.
The man is short of his ground when he dives. South Africa lost the match by 49 runs.
Du Plessis says that when that happens, your world stops. This wave of pressure is hitting you. "Oh no, what's happening?" The fans will be asked what they think. The media will say something. You begin to worry about the past and the future.
The New Zealand players were aggressive towards me. They began to call me a liar. I had a lot of feelings for them.
New Zealand's Kyle Mills was shoved by Du Plessis. He got death threats after he was blamed for the run out. He had only 10 one-dayers.
Since that time, he's hardened. His inner circle has become tighter. The book gives a glimpse of the outside.
A champion in his country's colors now consigned to being a freelancer on the global franchise circuit is the story of this game.
He could have played in last year's World Cup and this year's T20 World Cup.
I'm the leader and people expect me to keep my cool. I hope that I showed that it is possible to be weak and lead at the same time.
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