Image Credit- AP
Aww. In South Africa, we use it to convey a range of
feelings, from surprise to annoyance, and occasionally, when we are at a loss
for words.
The intersectional problems of being the first black
African to captain South Africa, the first black African batter to represent
South Africa, and now to be going through what ought to be the most memorable
week of his career as one of his hardest are beyond our comprehension, and it
never will be. Yet we could try.
Starting with what we are aware of. Although it
hindered him in South Africa’s most recent league game against Afghanistan,
Bavuma’s hamstring issue is getting better. Tuesday night practise included
more fitness drills for Bavuma, who had participated in optional training on
Monday. These drills included high-speed running, one-on-one fielding sessions
with one-handed pick-ups and throws, and a net session. One thing that stood
out about his training was his footwork, and he seemed to be improving quickly.
South Africa’s coach Rob Walter stated that “in an ideal world,” they
would not want to have to wait until the morning of the match to confirm
Bavuma’s participation. He is anticipated to be deemed fit by Wednesday.
If the injury has healed sufficiently, Bavuma should
replace him and lead South Africa against Australia in the World Cup
semi-final, just like he would have in any other squad (and there are some
excellent examples at this tournament, including Kane Williamson’s). But this
team is unlike any other. Here we have South Africa in the semifinals. And
this, with its entire history, is South Africa. Thus, it isn’t quite that
simple.
We also know that Bavuma has faced criticism for not
scoring many huge runs in this tournament (145 at an average of 20). Still,
it’s reasonable given that he tops the score with 35 in a squad where every
other player in the top five has scored a century. However, there’s also a
suggestion that he falls short.
Bavuma scored the most runs in ODIs this year for
South Africa before to the World Cup, averaging over 80. In his next five
innings, he struck two more hundreds, including the series-winning hundred
against England that was crucial in guaranteeing South Africa’s automatic
qualification to this tournament. His current ODI average is 47.25, which is
more than respectable, so it’s possible that this is just a lean stretch for
him.
The inclusion of Reeza Hendricks in the team and the
mixing up of an old problem from the T20 World Cup last year complicate things.
Therefore, we cannot establish by statistical analysis that Bavuma will play
ahead of Hendricks for any reason other than cricketing ones, even though we
may debate whether Hendricks ought to have been given more chances to play—and
he will following Quinton de Kock’s retirement. This includes the fact that
Bavuma is, and rightfully so, the captain.
Bavuma is an accomplished leader whose judgement has
won him recognition from numerous outside observers. When things become tight,
on or off the field, he sets up attacking fields, changes his bowling strategy
on time, and doesn’t seem to lose his cool. Most importantly, he has guided
South Africa through a number of challenging and possibly contentious
circumstances, such as de Kock’s decision to support his teammates while
remaining dignified and honest during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Bavuma understands
the job he does is bigger than sport and that he is a representative and a
role-model for South Africans who have not had someone like him to look up to
before. And in that, at least, he is not alone.
Although Bavuma is the first black African to captain
a national cricket team in South Africa, he is not the first black African to
do so in a historically white sport. That is the purview of Springbok captain
Siya Kolisi, who was named a “quota captain” upon his appointment in
2018 and proceeded to defy the label by leading the national rugby team to two
World Cup trophies. Kolisi is a symbol of black greatness and their most
successful captain.
Bavuma didn’t start this campaign with a World Cup
trophy, unlike Kolisi. Bavuma’s is not a substitution game like Kolisi. This is
significant because, when Kolisi and Bavuma are evaluated side by side, it
might be easy to overlook the fact that Kolisi participates in a sport in which
he is subject to removal if things are not going as planned or he has given it
his all on a given day. And that’s precisely what transpired fifty-one minutes
into the England semi-final. The level of luxury is not the same in Bavuma.
However, he does hold himself and his staff to the same, if not higher,
standards.
Succeed, and Temba Bavuma will have the nation at his
feet. But fail and it will be his fault before anyone else. Whether he is
injured or not. Whether he plays or not. Whether he scores runs or not. Eish.