Perth, Dec 1 (Ians) Veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis has inked a contract with Perth Scorchers as a replacement international player ahead of the 2022-23 Big Bash League (Bbl) season.

A powerful right-hander, du Plessis, who will soon call Optus Stadium home, has represented the Proteas 262 times — 69 Tests, 143 ODIs, 50 T20Is — and captained the side in 115 games — 36 Tests, 39 ODIs, 40 T20Is — during an international career that spanned from 2011-2021.

He is also the most experienced player on Perth’s list, having played 311 professional T20 games and scored 8,074 runs — four centuries, 50 half-centuries — at 31.05.

In Australia, du Plessis averaged 83.16 in Tests — 499 runs from nine innings — and 52.60 in ODIs — 526 runs from 12 innings –, while he struck 27 from 15 during his only T20I on Australian soil, according to Scorchers.

The 38-year-old has proven his class playing multiple roles but is most at home near the top of the order where his timing and clean ball-striking rises to the fore.