Zondo ready for the big stage – again
KHAYA Zondo feels he’s ready for the international stage – again.
He was ready in 2015 when first picked for the Proteas’ one-day squad in India. He infamously didn’t play a game in that series.
He was ready again when another chance came his way three years later, the opposition again India, this time at home. Zondo made 54 in one match. He played a couple of ODIs against Zimbabwe later in 2018, but wasn’t in the frame for the World Cup the next year.
Now, he’s been picked again. So is he better prepared this time?
“Every time I’ve been selected I was ready. I don’t think they pick a player who they don’t think is ready or up for the challenge. I think I am ready, I think I’ve always been ready,” Zondo said yesterday.
He was included in the 16-man Proteas squad for the three-match ODI series against the Netherlands later this month. It’s the first time he’s been called up to the national squad in three years.
A lot has happened in between, most notably the Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) hearings, where Zondo gave a forthright account of his omission from the final ODI in that 2015 series in India.
Then chairman of selectors Linda Zondi, Hussein Manack, who sat on the panel at the time, and Dr Mohammed Moosajee, the Proteas’ team manager on that tour, all testified about the incident.
It was a moment that has had a profound effect on South African cricket and it will no doubt feature prominently when the transformation ombud, Adv Dumisa Ntsebeza publishes the SJN’s final report.
Zondo has said his piece on that matter. He’d rather the focus be on his call-up now, and the form which motivated it.
“I don’t think you can say it was expected. I’m happy. It’s nice to be recognised for performances,” said Zondo.
He’s been one of the best batters in the country at the start of the 2021/22 season. He produced some crucial innings as the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins finished runners-up in the T20 Knock Out competition last month.
“I had a relatively good feeling last year, and I think it was about building on the things I did last year,” he said.
“I want to be a match winner. Everytime I perform I want to put my team in a match-winning position, or to be the one that wins the game for my team.”
His maiden first-class double century in the opening round of the Four-Day series was one such performance. The Dolphins were in trouble and he turned that into what would have been a match-winning one had rain not washed out the last day’s play in Cape Town.
“It looks like I’m playing more freely, I think mentally I am free. I always talk to my coaches to just make sure I am playing freely. I produce my best when I’m not worried about too many things, not worried about making mistakes.
“I’m just focussing on the ball, looking to put the team in a good position or win the game if we are chasing. I just read the game and the game will tell me what I need to do to achieve a win.”
Zondo added that he has been aided by the fact that as a senior player, he is providing tips to the younger Dolphins players, which have proved to be beneficial for him as well.
“In helping the younger guys, I also help myself in the sense that in giving them advice, it feels like I am reminding myself constantly about some of the things I need to keep doing,” said Zondo.
Now that he’s back in the national side, the next goal is to establish himself at the highest level.
“I want to play all formats for the national team, be a regular in the starting XI and a regular in the squad. I’d love to go to a World Cup. It’s about taking one step at a time.”