Duminy has eye on a new dawn
STAR’S BURNING DESIRE TO PLAY IN WORLD CUP AB de Villiers set to get some valuable time in the middle ahead of the one-day series against Tigers.
When JP Duminy leads out a South African Invitation XI in a 50-over warm-up against Bangladesh today, it won’t be a low-key moment for him.
To be honest, it’s supposed to be a rebirth of sorts.
Last month, the mercurial Proteas left-hander decided to retire from Test cricket after being dropped in the series against England.
Many felt it was a long time coming and the 33-year-old’s Test average of 32.85 probably justified his course of action.
Duminy always seemed under pressure to cement his place in the five-day format and was later the first head on a chopping block.
It drained him mentally to such an extent that he even skipped this year’s Indian Premier League – after South Africa’s tour to New Zealand – to recharge his batteries and be ready for the United Kingdom.
Needless to say, it didn’t work out. Now, Duminy is committed to being a limited-overs player, where he’s always had his bread buttered far more thickly.
He seems to enjoy playing against the white ball more and, like various other experienced Proteas, has a burning desire to turn a World Cup victory in 2019 into his last hurrah.
More importantly, having the relative freedom of now only focusing on one-day cricket could mean Duminy delivers the type of consistent performances he is capable of.
Today could be an indication ... or another false dawn.
The national selectors will also be keen to see how AB de Villiers goes.
There’s a new wave of optimism after the world-class middle order batsman decided to give up the captaincy of the one-day international side in order to play Test cricket again.
De Villiers did play in the Titans’ most recent Sunfoil Series match, a draw against the Warriors in Benoni. However, he only managed scores of 5 and 32 in the match.
Some time in the middle would put him in good stead for the oneday series, which starts on Sunday in Kimberley.