Lions’ loss is Cobras’ gain as Bavuma heads to Cape

TEMBA Bavuma will be moving back home next summer after signing up to represent the Cape Cobras in domestic franchise competitions.

Bavuma, has been with the Highveld Lions for all of his professional career, making his first class debut for Gauteng in 2008. Independent Newspapers understands that Bavuma wants a change of scenery and a different challenge. He grew up in Langa and went to primary school at SACS in Newlands before his father – Vuyo – moved to Johannesburg. Bavuma subsequently went to high school at St Davids College in Inanda.

Bavuma made his franchise debut in 2010/11 and by the following season had established himself as an important cog in the Lions middle order. He averaged, 69.37, scored 555 runs, with two centuries and six half-centuries in 11 innings when the Lions won the Sunfoil Series in 2014/15.

Although he is very much part of the establishment in Gauteng cricket circles, his ties in the Western Cape are very strong too.

In the wake of his historic Test hundred against England at Newlands at the start of 2016, Bavuma spoke passionately about his pride in representing Langa.

His picture still proudly adorns the walls of the clubhouse at Langa Cricket Club and there’s no doubt his work in development initiatives, which recently included his foundation helping to restore practice nets at Hoernle Primary School in Rockville, Soweto, will continue in the area where he was born.

Bavuma has played 20 Tests for South Africa, and while his statistics for the 2016/17 season don’t make for great reading, he contributed significantly to the Proteas’ series wins in Australia and New Zealand, making timely contributions when the side was in trouble. He also scored a century on his ODI debut against Ireland in Benoni, which remains his only ODI to date.