Bavuma wants to convert his starts
Temba Bavuma played some glorious drives at Kingsmead, but he is determined to convert his start into something substantial in the second Test against New Zealand in Centurion.
|||Temba Bavuma played some glorious drives through the offside in his last innings, but he is determined to convert his start into a substantial score in the second Test against New Zealand in Centurion.
The Proteas will be going all out for a victory against the Black Caps in the series decider that starts on Saturday at SuperSport Park after rain and a relaid Kingsmead outfield contributed to just 99.4 overs being bowled during the first Test in Durban.
The last three days were abandoned without a ball being bowled, but that won’t be the case in Centurion as fine weather and an excellent outfield awaits the two teams.
But there is uncertainty about exactly how the pitch will play during a South African winter, with the usual pace and bounce set to make way for a slower and lower track.
That means it’s even more important for the Proteas’ top seven batsmen need to knuckle down and kick on if they are “in”, unlike what happened at Kingsmead, where only Hashim Amla passed 50.
Bavuma has quickly become a key figure in the South African middle-order, which has a very brittle look to it due to the absence of regular captain AB de Villiers. His leadership replacement Faf du Plessis was dropped for the last Test of the previous summer against England due to poor form, and even though Du Plessis is in charge against New Zealand, he hasn’t regained his touch at the crease yet.
The same can be said for left-hander JP Duminy, and both he and Du Plessis need to come up with a substantial contribution to retain their place once De Villiers is back from injury for the Australian Test tour in November.
Bavuma, in contrast, has done well since scoring his maiden Test hundred at Newlands in January, but is eager to push on and make another. He looked well set to do exactly that at Kingsmead, stroking a classy 46 with seven boundaries. But just after Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a run-a-ball 33, Bavuma was trapped lbw by spinner Mitchell Santner following an ill-advised sweep.
“It’s always pleasing to get some runs on the board, and we’re obviously quite privileged and pleased to do what we do. But I think in the same token and vein, I was quite disappointed that I wasn’t able to convert for the team,” Bavuma said this week.
“But then we ended up at around 260, and if I was able to make more of my start, we could’ve ended up with 300. But ja, it’s always nice to get some runs on the board. Bowling to me is quite different to bowling to Hashim Amla. In saying that, Hashim Amla scored quite freely and got to 50 in about 60 balls. Maybe the bowlers struggled to adjust to the kind of lengths needed to bowl to me.
“We should’ve converted – the 40 that I got and Faf got 20-odd – that’s the difference between the 260 we got and 350.”
Bavuma said he would be “happy to fulfil that role” of batting at No 4 if he is asked to do so by Proteas Russell Domingo in future, but for now, he is in the crucial No 6 position.
New Zealand boast a top-class pace attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner, and Bavuma is expecting another serious examination of his technique at Centurion.
“You can see why Trent Boult and Tim Southee are up there in the ICC bowling rankings – their skill is impeccable and as a batter, they always keep asking you the right questions,” he said.
“Most probably if they were to get on to a wicket that assisted them a bit more, they would be a formidable force. It was a good experience and there was a lot I could take out from that experience, my skill against their skill.
“They are quite a patient bunch of bowlers. They generally bowl the ball quite full, so it tested my balance, making sure I’m on the front foot more than the back foot. So, just keeping that awareness of my balance, waiting for that ball to come and choosing the right times to put the pressure back on them.
“It is important for the top-order to fire. They set up the game and kill that new ball, and I have full faith in the incumbents. In due time, the guys will put up the numbers that we are accustomed to seeing from them.”
Play is set to start at 10am on Saturday.
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