Hendricks can’t wait to restart
WHEN Reeza Hendricks struck the fastest century by a One-Day International debutant in Pallekele two years ago, everyone believed it was the beginning of a great Proteas career.
He had waited almost four years for the chance after first getting a taste of international cricket in a T20I against Australia back in 2014. He had tightened up his game during the intervening period and seemed mentally stronger.
But there were only a further two half-centuries in his next 17 outings and he was out of the team for the World Cup with the selectors preferring the experience of Hashim Amla and JP Duminy.
But with Amla and Duminy joining AB de Villiers in the retirement lounge after #CWC2019, Hendricks could rightfully feel that he was at the forefront of the queue lining up to replace the veterans for the foreseeable future.
Instead, the 30-year-old has played only three ODI’s and three T20I’s since the World Cup, with the likes of Temba Bavuma, Janneman
Malan, Kyle Verreynne and Heinrich Klassen all moving ahead of him.
“My season has been a rollercoaster one with lots of highs and lots of lows, and disappointments as well. I felt I did fairly well on the domestic scene where I have contributed in all formats, so I was quite happy with my performance there,” Hendricks said.
“But then again very disappointed in the international and Proteas set up. I only got a handful of opportunities (for the Proteas); been around, didn’t play, got left out. I couldn’t understand why. Those are the sort of questions I asked myself. Those are the sort of disappointments I had to deal with the past season. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season.”
Hendricks is certainly fortunate that when he returns from the national set-up he is welcomed with open arms at the Lions and
Jozi Stars. He certainly enjoys the environment at the Wanderers, having produced his best first-class return in years last season, which included a career-best 168 not out against the Knights that helped the Lions defend their Four-Day domestic title. Equally, he was once again among the Mzansi Super League’s top run-scorers despite the Jozi Stars finishing bottom of the table.
“I have had to learn how to adapt and how to keep being persistent in different situations.
“Sport is full of ups and downs; one day you’re the hero and next day you’re not. It is important to have a good level and to stay on that level,” Hendricks said.
“There is always going to be pressure. You will look at the schedule and then set some goals. Those are things that you want to achieve during the season. Hopefully I can contribute for whichever team I play for.”
Hendricks is still part of CSA’s contracted list of players and will return to outdoor training with his national teammates once the lockdown regulations allow.
“It has been very difficult for us, those of us who are used to being outdoors and playing,” Hendricks said. “So I’ll be definitely looking forward to being outdoors and playing again.
“It’s been a couple of months where I have been stuck inside, focussed on fitness and running, the parts that are not too nice, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting outside again, whether it’s in groups of three or more,” he concluded.