The lengthy wait is finally over
After months of off- field issues the Proteas are finally going to be able to get on the field
FORGET about the suits. Forget about the Fundudzi Report. Forget about everything negative that has dragged South African cricket’s name through the mud the past eight months.
The Proteas are back in action against England today at Newlands for the first time since Covid- 19 forced them into hibernation in March.
This is reason enough to celebrate, and a time to appreciate the people behind the scenes that have ultimately made this happen.
There are obviously still genuine concerns around Covid- 19 and the well- being of the players, particularly after two Proteas tested positive in the build- up.
Team doctor Shuaib Manjra spoke at length yesterday about the testing process, which he described as “stressful” and the “mental toll” its takes on the players, especially if they need to self- isolate like the two affected players have done.
But Manjra also said that “in the real world you always have distractions” and that dealing with Covid- 19 has built up “resilience” within the squad.
Having played during the heart of the epidemic back home, England captain Eoin Morgan is certainly fully aware of the responsibilities on the players’ shoulders.
While sport may always have placed itself in the leisure and amusement spectrum, the motive to entertain the cricket- starved public watching at home on their couches instead of inside the stadium is even greater now.
“As a sportsman, there are very few times you play sport or contribute to things when people actually really need it,” Morgan said.
“I went through this myself towards the back end of our first lockdown period when sport just reintegrated into people’s TVS at home, and the smile it put on my face and the community that I live in was outstanding.
“Given how bad the circumstances, how bad they still are, particularly at home, it’s important for us to go out there and hopefully put on a bit of a show because it’s certainly a lot of different challenges at this moment in time, but certainly sport can help relieve that a little bit.”
The impact of Covid- 19 has not escaped the usually free- spirited
South African captain Quinton de Kock either. De Kock knows his team have an opportunity to bring some relief to the masses after months of discontent on all fronts.
“It’s a fresh start. The guys are keen to play. It’s been a while since we’ve played for the Proteas. The guys are keen to change what’s been going on around cricket. We’re the leaders and we’ll try to lead from the front. The guys are keen to get going.”
De Kock will have to lead his team into battle without the two Covid- 19 players and all- rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who has been ruled out of the England series due to a hamstring injury.
Furthermore, the skipper wasn’t open to discuss who his muchdebated opening partner would be at Newlands, although the smart money is on Temba Bavuma.
The pair were red- hot during the last series, which England edged 2- 1 back in February after three gripping contests, with De Kock lacing 131 runs at an average of 43.66 and manic strike- rate of 214, while Bavuma also blazed 123 at 41 with a strike- rate of 153.75.
This is the type of entertainment everyone tuning into their TV sets.
PROBABLE TEAMS
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock ( capt, wk), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, JonJon Smuts/ George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
ENGLAND: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan ( capt), Jos Buttler ( wk), Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer
Start: 6pm