Maybe five years ago wasn’t my time, says new recruit Kuhn

JOHANNESBURG: Finding rhythm, form and even some confidence in their four day warm-up game against the England Lions in Worcester will be the primary objective for the Proteas this week.

In recent years it’s become trendy for the South Africans to treat tour matches with a lackadaisical attitude. However results on the current tour have hitherto been awful, and the team needs a lift in spirits and a sharpening of its attitude ahead of the fourmatch Test series that starts next week.

This tour now hinges on the outcome of the Test series. South Africa’s previous two trips to England are both regarded as successful because the Test series was won on each visit but on both occasions the Tests came at the start of the tour. In 2008, following a first Test series triumph in England in over 40 years, the subsequent One-Day series was lost, while the 2012 triumph saw the team earn the No 1 ranking. The One-Day series on that tour was drawn and the T20 series lost.

This time the Champions Trophy was so poorly played that there is a danger that some lingering doubts may spill over into the Tests. Throw into the mix the likely absence of skipper Faf du Plessis, and concerns over who the next coach will be, and South Africa certainly appear as if they’ll be starting the series on the backfoot.

Therefore it’s crucial they make some sort of impression at Worcester against an England “A “side – aka the Lions – featuring four players with Test experience.

In the South African camp, players are at various stages of readiness. Heino Kuhn, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma have been in action for the SA “A” side, which itself had a wretched tour to England losing One-Day and Four Day matches to their England counterparts.

The 33 year old Kuhn, who made a double hundred against a second string Hampshire outfit and then followed it up with a century against the England Lions was among those who enhanced his reputation and got picked in the Test squad as a result.

“I have matured a lot over the years as a batter and as a cricketer,” he said yesterday. “I believe everything happens for a reason and maybe five years ago wasn’t my time. I’m happy to be here and I’m looking forward to this challenge.

“I’m going to try and approach it like I do with every game. I know there is going to be a bit more pressure, especially if I make my debut, but it will be important to see it like it’s any other game.