OPINION
Follow UsWhile T20 Internationals (T20Is) are of little to no significance at the moment, given that we have a 50-over World Cup around the corner, there’s no reason teams cannot play with one eye on the future. That could mean handing out matches to a few rookie players with an abundance of talent, and based on how they shape up, play them in the T20 World Cup next year.
While Australia have certainly begun well in that direction, the same cannot be said about South Africa.
When Aiden Markram was appointed T20I captain after Temba Bavuma made way, one thought that the Proteas would make a serious effort to perhaps make a few necessary tweaks - one of which was potentially leaving Bavuma out of T20s. But if the first T20I against Australia is anything to go by, they seemed to have taken a couple of steps back.
Yes, handing the wonder kid Dewald Brevis a debut was certainly a step in the right decision. But if he is going to bat below Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen in the line-up, then why really bother?
South Africa were chasing 227 on Wednesday (August 30) in Durban. Perfect time to unleash Brevis, right? Wrong! The management somehow found it would be ideal to open with Bavuma, who has an average of 12.4 and strike-rate of 103.3 opening the innings in T20s since 2022 a perfect fit at the top when the asking rate was over 11.
Brevis, on the other hand averages 32 and strikes at 145.8 in T20 cricket when he opens. Including the first T20I, Brevis has played just twice at five where he has managed just nine runs from eight deliveries. Imagine had Australia used the same ploy and asked Short to bat in the middle-order. Short’s numbers against spinners are not great (Ave 20.23, SR 123) and in the middle phase he strikes at just 120.33, compared to 144.24 in the powerplay.
While there is no doubt South Africa will be a formidable batting unit once the likes of Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen return to the fold, this series does provide an opportunity to plant the seeds for the future. That is exactly what the Aussies have done.
Their new skipper Mitchell Marsh clearly has not missed a beat with the bat despite an added responsibility but, beyond that, Australia have begun to identify players that could help them in the long run. Tanveer Sangha (21), Aaron Hardie (24), Spencer Johnson (27) and Matthew Short (27) are some of the new options that have already been given a go by Australia and all of them in their own way had some sort of impact in the first T20I.
“Tanveer Sangha is a fantastic talent, he wasn't in the squad, flew in yesterday and played so well today,” Marsh said. As luck would have it, the leg-spinner had a memorable debut, becoming only the second Australian to take a four-wicket haul in his first-ever game for Australia in the format. A little competition for Adam Zampa, perhaps?
In contrast, Bavuma (33) and Van der Dussen (34) may not have many legs in them as far as T20 cricket is concerned. While earlier we had established that Bavuma definitely not worthy of hanging on to his spot, it is a similar case with van der Dussen as well, given that he has averaged under 25 and struck at just 122 in T20s since 2022.
While all four debutants from Australia will certainly have to make way when Adam Zampa, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, David Warner and others return, they can be delighted that they have taken a punt on some new faces, who have made a good start.
While South Africa may have taken a punt on Brevis, although not in the position he has excelled, they still have Donovan Ferreira (25) on the bench, who represented Joburg Super kings in the inaugural SA20 and was picked up by Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2023. Wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Breetzke (24) too is there on the bench, and can be tried in the upcoming matches, but with Tristan Stubbs (23) donning the gloves, it is highly possible that his chance may not come.
“It’s about giving the youngsters an opportunity before the World Cup,” Markram said after the game.
While it was a debut for 20-year-old Brevis and 22-year-old fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, Stubbs, and Marco Jansen (23) have done well in domestic/franchise T20 competitions to earn a place in the side.
An opportunity to prove their worth may not come to fruition in the ODI series, but with the limited chances, they certainly can leave an impression, making it tough for the management not to consider them – be it for the T20 World Cup next year or the ODI World Cup in October-November this year.
While Australia have started off on the right note, for the Proteas, going forward in this series, it is about more than just throwing the young guns into the deep end. What they should be aiming to do in the remaining games is to play individuals in the right position and in the right situation where they can express themselves freely.
That could be the case when they take on Australia in the second game on Friday (September 1) at Kingsmead.
