- Proteas vice-captain Temba Bavuma said he needs to turn his 50 into 100 after SA’s latest loss against Australia.
- SA lost both Tests against Australia by six wickets and innings and 182 runs in their first two matches against Australia in Brisbane and Melbourne.
- Bavuma refused to criticize the state of domestic cricket in South Africa.
Proteas vice-captain Temba Bavuma has admitted he needs to turn his 50s for the Test team’s batting fortunes to turn around.
Bavuma made 65 in the second innings for Proteas in a 182-run loss against Australia in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this week.
It was his 20th 50th, though, and he’s yet to add to the one Test ton he scored against England at Newlands in 2016.
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Bavuma now stands alone as the batsman with the most Test 50s in the current Proteas group, but with only a 100 to go with them.
Bavuma admitted that 100 was needed from him and the rest of the team.
“That’s what our hitting group needs. The ’60s and ’70s might be good for a particular time, but in the bigger scheme of things, they don’t change the outcome of a game,” Bavuma said.
“I’ve been guilty of that in my test race and that’s something I’d really like to change, but not just for myself, for the team.
“That’s what the team needs, two guys to go out there and score a big 100 and give the bowlers something to back them up.”
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That the Proteas failed to cross 200 for seven straight innings until doing so in the second innings against Australia has been the subject of derision for Dean Elgar’s side.
The finger has also been pointed at the dearth of quality batsmen in the South African home system.
It has been restructured from the franchise system and back to the provincial system that was in operation until the 2003/04 season.
Bavuma wasn’t in the mood to criticize the system, but he did admit that younger hitters have come forward.
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“I’ve heard those arguments and people are looking at our domestic system at home and asking if it’s outfitting the lads for Test cricket,” Bavuma said.
“Inexperienced lads will understand that it’s a big leap between provincial and international cricket.
“I can’t sit here and test our system because I’m part of it, but the inexperience in the group is really showing.”
