Ahead of the much anticipated ODI series between South Africa and Australia, the Proteas are likely to have star opener Hashim Amla back the top of the order. The South African run machine wasn’t a part of the playing XI against Ireland as he was out on paternity leave. For the series against the visiting Australian side, though, Amla is expected to be back at his slot.
In Amla’s absence, it was talented test batsman Temba Bavuma who made his ODI debut and it was a day worth remembering for the makeshift opener. Against Ireland, Bavuma notched up a fine century to prove his class at the ODI level. Post the game, however, he admitted that his position as an opener was just a temporary one and Amla would be back soon.
“I think the credit must go to the selectors and the administrators,” Bavuma said. “They decided I should fill in this role for this game and it’s worked out.” “Hashim is the incumbent. He is well established and I am sure he will be back to fill those boots,” Bavuma said. “And at the Lions (domestic side), I probably won’t go to Geoff Toyana and ask to open. I think it will be disruptive. The Lions have Stephen Cook and Reeza Hendricks so for me to look for a place there will cause more harm than good.”
Bavuma also praised his opening partner Quinton De Kock for playing swiftly. “I was able to perform the way I performed because of the way Quinny plays. Up front he makes any wicket look flat,” Bavuma said. “He can score runs at will so it allowed me to take a bit more time and settle the nerves.”
“At the start of the season I set myself goals to try and improve as a player and one of the areas was with the white ball,” Bavuma added. “Your intensity must be higher. Even if you block the ball, you block it with the intent to score. At times I struggled with that today but I am generally a positive player and I look to put the bad balls away.”I have always seen batting as just batting. Whether it’s at No. 1 or No. 4, the ball is still the ball. At the Lions, I will probably slot in in the middle and I will try and do things the way I normally do them.”