Proteas brim with hope
Teammates back Bavuma whose form is under spotlight against India, the most anticipated match of the round-robin stage
● In a line-up in which every other frontline batter, the No 7 and the backup batter have all made at least one 50 at the Cricket World Cup, Temba Bavuma’s modest returns with the willow sticks out like a swollen digit.
The South African captain, however, remains confident — and has the backing of his teammates — that he will eventually join them in the 100-making stakes as the tournament reaches the pointy end.
“The other batters are smashing it at the moment, so you feel you want to contribute,” Bavuma said yesterday.
His form will be under the spotlight today against India in what is the most anticipated match of the round-robin phase, featuring the top two teams on the points table. “I take comfort in the fact that I have been involved in some partnerships with Quinny (Quinton de Kock) up front. I just really want to extend those,” he said.
“From my side, maybe it’s one of those patches where you are kind of scratching around. But I have to keep that belief, that the opportunity will be there for me to make a big play.”
Bavuma is averaging 22.20 from five innings in the tournament, having missed both matches, on what were flat, made-for-batting tracks in Mumbai, because of a gastric illness.
Otherwise, he has a highest score of 35, which came against Australia as part of a 108-run opening partnership with De Kock. While Bavuma describes his batting as “scratchy”, it actually hasn’t looked that way in the last two innings he’s played.
In the 28 he made against Pakistan in Chennai and last Wednesday’s 24 in Pune against New Zealand, Bavuma drove the ball beautifully, timed it sweetly, but got out trying to force the pace both times.
“He’s been batting really well. He’s looked solid, but keeps finding a way to get out,” said De Kock, the tournament’s leading runscorer.
“But Temba backs himself and that’ sa good trait to have. He’s not fazed, at least I hope he’s not. He doesn’t look like he is.”
Coming into the tournament, Bavuma was South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODIs. In 17 matches in the last 18 months, he scored 868 runs at an average of 57.86.
“We’ve all gone through something like that as batters in our careers — you feel really good but somehow find a way to get out. I’ve got a feeling that in an important game for us, that is when he is going to come through. That is Temba Bavuma in a package,” said De Kock.
Bavuma’s teammates have been unstinting in their support. “I feel it everyday in the team,” he admitted.
“It’s due to the fact that we are a group of batters that have been together for three to four years. We’ve seen each other go through little ups and downs, (and) we know mentally we have what it takes to get over the challenges. I need to keep sticking to my processes, keep preparing as well as I can, and then the result will take care of itself.”
Besides De Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram have made centuries, while Marco Jansen, batting at No 7, has weighed in with a career-best 75. Reeza Hendricks, who batted in place of Bavuma in Mumbai, made 85, further magnifying Bavuma’s lack of scoring.
Bavuma won’t be dropped.
His role as skipper is too important and it’s clear in the field that his teammates follow his lead. As part of the brains trust, his tactical acumen is critical to the way the team operates.
Through a tricky qualification process for the World Cup, which the Proteas only secured in their last series against the Netherlands, he was the most consistent player.
After today’s match, the Proteas have just a clash with Afghanistan remaining before the semifinals.
Where they play that final match will only become clear once Pakistan’s final spot is known.
Because of the troubled political situation between India and Pakistan, the latter cannot play in Mumbai, where a particularly powerful anti-Muslim sentiment exists. Thus any semifinal in which Pakistan plays will be hosted in Kolkata.
Should Pakistan not make the final four, India will play their semifinal in Mumbai against the team that finishes fourth. It would take two very bad losses against India today and against Afghanistan next Friday for South Africa to drop into fourth place — and it is likely they will return to Eden Gardens for their semifinal on November 16.
Bavuma believes he’ll have recovered his form by that stage.
“Mentally, I need to stay focussed. There is a lot of cricket to be played in this tournament, and I believe I will have a part to play.”
I need to keep sticking to my processes, keep preparing as well as I can, and then the result will take care of itself
Temba Bavuma