Johannesburg – Regardless of the length of their term, international cricket team captains are presented really difficult situations.
Even the Black Caps, with Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, have had a great deal of turmoil over the past several years.
Very rarely in other sports are captains scrutinized for team selection (despite the fact that a committee chooses the teams), decisions at the toss, field placement, and when to utilize a particular bowler.
And then there is the captain’s own performance, which, when subpar, can cause sleepless nights. Since the conclusion of South Africa’s Twenty20 series against Ireland and England, Temba Bavuma has naturally been the topic of much discussion. There Rilee Rossouw and Reeza Hendricks hotly contested positions at the top of the batting order, while Bavuma was absent due to injury.
Even after that series, Convenor of Selectors Victor Mpitsang remained to back Bavuma. However, when questioned during the T20 World Cup team announcement whether he would be willing to drop Bavuma if he did not rediscover form before the tournament, Mpitsang answered he did not know.
Well, he had better know the answer immediately, as the question is directly in front of him.
And while this is true, Bavuma deserves a great deal of compassion as well.
Bavuma has also endured the emotional toll of not being selected for the new SA20; he is the captain of the one-day team, which is struggling to qualify automatically for the World Cup in that format next year and which is likely to have to play a home ODI series against the current World Cup holders (England) without many of his senior players because the SA20 – for which he was not selected – is taking place at the same time.
It is difficult not to feel pity for Bavuma. South African cricket is facing a challenging era – yet again – as it attempts to maintain the Proteas’ worldwide relevance while creating financial stability.
Despite all the enthusiasm and fervor around the SA20 – most notably that it would produce much-needed funds for the sport locally – the national side remains crucial and its success, regardless of the format, is of essential importance.
The Proteas could benefit from reducing some of Bavuma’s responsibilities.
The upcoming weeks are vital for both him and the team as a whole.
Regardless of whether he should start or not, he remains a crucial member of the team, particularly from a leadership standpoint.
Due to the “winning is everything” mentality of professional sports, it can be easy to overlook the human element.
Bavuma deserves respect, and he might likely benefit from some good fortune at some point.