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India v SA, 4th Test, Delhi, 4th day December 6, 2015 Bavuma - small man with a
big heartFIRDOSE MOONDA IN NEW DELHI 20 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
By stonewalling an accomplished attack on a tricky surface, with the team having
their backs to the wall, Bavuma has not only shown he has the character of a Test
opener, but also earned the right to be in the starting XI when England come calling
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This was the toughest batting of my life - Bavuma
For a small man, Temba Bavuma has had some big expectations thrust on him. The
biggest, in fact.

At his franchise team, the Lions, he is nicknamed Sachin. You can probably figure
out why. Bavuma stands a shave under 5'3"; Tendulkar is 5'4". When the two
actually met in late October, that inch appeared as tiny as it really is and as
massive as the 196 Tests and 15,786 runs that separate them.

Whether Bavuma will even come close to narrowing that gap seems too much to
contemplate right now but his domestic team-mates will tell you that he has the
temperament to try. He dished up a small sample of that in this match where,
opening the batting for the first time, he showed the head and the heart, if not
always the technique, to do the job.

Bavuma's performance stood out because of the backdrop it has come against.
While most of his team-mates have looked completely out of their depth on this
tour, Bavuma has managed to hold his own. He accepted the challenge of batting
out of position - Bavuma is a regular No.5 - but would only get the chance to slot in
there for South Africa if AB de Villiers has another child, as was the case in
Bangladesh - and also adjusted his game to suit the circumstance of the second
innings.

In the first dig, Bavuma could still bat like he usually does. He had to be cautious
but could still look for runs and his signature shot - the elegant flick off the hip - that
had many praising his panache. Against bowling that cramped him for room and
fielders who closed down all the angles, he eventually scored only 22, but it was a
relatively assured knock. It was also more than anyone else except de Villiers.

But the instructions in the second innings were entirely different: stone-wall like you
are Russia at the United Nations Security Council, do not run, do not try to run, do
not look for runs, just dead-bat everything and don't get out. For a player whose
role is very seldom about that kind of staunch defence, Bavuma had to apply
himself in a way he had not done before.

"That was the toughest piece of batting I've had to do in my life. I always try to be
positive but with the runs not being the priority, time was the key and that was
tough for me," said Bavuma. "The toughest part is when I have to against my
natural instinct, which is to score runs. Here, the main thing is time. It's not the runs
and batting time is quite tough."

The first shot Bavuma played was that leg side clip for a single before he
remembered it was not necessary to rotate strike. For the next 17 deliveries, he left
the ball go outside the off stump or blocked. His next run came almost by accident,
when he got on the back foot to defend one that leapt up on him and it took off
form high on the bat to leave enough time and room to amble one. Hashim Amla
allowed Bavuma through then, but wouldn't as the inning progressed.

Bavuma awareness of the offstump, especially against the seamers upfront, was
sound but not as sternly examined as it may have been because they did not force
him into playing. Ishant Sharma seemed more interested in using Bavuma as a
dartboard as he tried to the attack the body. On every occasion, Bavuma managed
to get out of the way. It was only when Ishant pitched it further up and brought it
closer in that Bavuma had to tighten up, even though there were times when he did
not get behind the line of the ball as much as he should have.

Against the spinners, Bavuma needed to be even more aware of that. He routinely
exposed his off stump while staying back in the crease and R Ashwin snuck through.
But the other aspects of Bavuma's response to spin - the coming forward when its
tossed up and attention to watching for the turn - were signs of someone who is

well-versed in playing slower-bowling and the bells and whistles that come with it,
including the verbals.

In frustration, the Indian fielders even tried to intimidate Bavuma out but was able
to shut that out too. "They make quite a lot of noise. They are known for their
theatre. They are always trying to get you to play out of character," he said.

What Bavuma showed was that he has got the character of a Test opener, even
though that is not what he was just four days ago. He has given South Africa an
option they did not previously have and he has let them know it. "I've certainly been
taken out of my comfort zone. I have been asked to fulfill a job that is very hard
fulfilling but hopefully I can just grow here on."

As a result, he has earned the right to keep the spot for the upcoming series against
England where the expectations will be big but the man himself, has now become a
little bigger.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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LATEST ALL 21OLDEST
JOWDIE ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 8:39 GMT
I'd like to see a good old fashioned fast-bowling team for the the Eng home tour,
with the batsmen taking some more responsibility and NOT relying on the more
modern idea that tail-enders need to contribute. They should also get over the
whole Kallis all-rounder attitude/conundrum. It'd be great to see Bavuma rewarded
for his attitude and shear doggedness- let's give him a solid try. As for QDK, it's
obvious he needs to be in the side and is a much better batting option than Vilas.
Also, faith needs to be kept in Tahir as he is the only real world class option for SA in
the spin dept. He's been treated rather poorly and given little faith- he succeeds in
the ODI format, he CAN do it in tests- he just needs confidence from his team.
Finally, Abbott must be taken seriously. SA side to face ENG: 1. Elgar 2. Bavuma 3.
Amla 4. AB 5. Faf 6. QDK 7. Rabada 8. Abbott 9. Steyn 10. Morkel 11. Tahir.
WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 7:50 GMT
One thing I know for sure is that Duminy must go. After more than 32 tests, he now
averages less than 33. That is shocking.
TOMMYTUCKERSAFFA ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 5:45 GMT
SA selectors will not pick Stephen Cook so realistically I would like to see Bavuma
given a decent run as an opener to see if it works. Management might revert back
to Van Zyl for the England series because he is unlikely to face spin early. If that is
the case then Duminy should be finally dropped and Bavuma gets his spot.
WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 4:53 GMT
LOL, look around the school system, there are no 6'7 black fast bowlers. This is the
best Morkel has bowled for some time and you want to drop him.
ALEXK400 ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 3:58 GMT
SA has core. Amla and Devillers and some extent Duplesis. Bowling Steyn and
Abbot and rabada. its time to replace morkel with abbout. SA need bowlers who put
200% effort and need to terrorize batsman. Line and length is no use. You need to
show batsman will be punished if he moves forward with surprise lifters. Morkel
problem is his long hand telegraph where he bowls. So 100% of time batsman guess
line and now its matter of guess length only. SA need to find bowlers with quick
hand action. I am not fan of plhilander either , he does well in SA but they should
not pick him overseas. SA need to bring more Black bowlers. Because they are
better physically fit with good bone structure to with stand rigors of fast bowling.

Can't SA find Tall 6' 7"+ black player who can bowl fast?. They are there. It is just
that system is corrupt in every country. Every admistrators in every country try to
mooch off players. We need independent scouting system to find players and train
liek baseball.
WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 3:54 GMT
@t20cric Stephen Cook, been around the provincial scene for many years. Good,
consistent performer.
ALEXK400 ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 22:05 GMT
I really dump morkel. Only reason i keep him in team because soemtime he
provides contrast with other bowlers. Most time he bowl like journeyman collecting
pay cheque. it seems like someone has to keep poking him and make angry to play
with 200% effort. Without steyn they relied on morkel. He did not deliver. That said
SA lost because of its batting not because of bowling. I still think abbot should play
instead of morkel. If you are top bowler you should get 5 wicket per inning once in
10 inning. his 1-2 wickets do not help SA that much. Bavuma should be given
chance because he is better awkward elgar.
THECRICKETEER ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 21:40 GMT
Theres plenty space for Bavuma in the middle order. Duminy has been persisted
with for so long on the basis of his potential as an all rounder. Well, if this wasn't the
tour for him to bowl a whole bunch then there never will be. So he needs to go get
better at provincial level. Don't make Bavuma open. Not fair on him or right for the
team.
The team are gna need a classic and experienced opener for the England challenge.
I don't think they can look past Stephen Cook.
Elgar, Cook, Amla, AB, Faf, Bavuma, Qdk. Bowlers depend on who is fit. but we have
options in that area.
BROKENSAINT ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 20:16 GMT
bavuma show application and I do feel he should get another shout at it. van zyl
looked out of his depth as a opener....Faf du plessis as well. he is no test no 3......
T20CRIC ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 19:59 GMT
@Waterfallfan: The team looks good but I think Cook would be to busy opening and
captaining England against SA to open for them. Unless if there's some other Cook
your talking about who is an opening batman for SA.