"There might have been players who weren’t on form but you still have to show faith and confidence in those guys that they can still put in match-winning performances.”
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Temba Bavuma addressed Reeza Hendricks’ non-selection at the T20 World Cup after the Proteas returned from Australia. The Proteas selectors supported an out-of-form Bavuma to open the batting with Quinton de Kock throughout their campaign, meaning the in-form Hendricks did not play. In his last five T20I innings, Hendricks has scored 57, 53, 70, 74, and 42 runs. Bavuma, on the other hand, had two ducks and three threes in the T20I series in India before hitting 70 runs in five T20 World Cup matches with an average of 17.50 and a strike rate of 112.90.
Bavuma stated that there had been some robust selection discussions at the T20 World Cup upon the team’s arrival in Joburg on Wednesday, but he did not name any players. “In terms of strategy, those conversations happen pretty much every game. I think as you would have seen, we select the team based on conditions,” he said. “In terms of form, it is the World Cup and you are always going to show confidence to guys who you feel are your best XI, and that’s exactly what we did. There might have been players who weren’t on form but you still have to show faith and confidence in those guys that they can still put in match-winning performances.”
Meanwhile, Enoch Nkwe CSA director of cricket said that he does not get involved in selection matters. “Any interference from my side would just be wrong. They obviously looked at the strategy, what was going to work best on the day and picked the XI. At the end of the day, it’s the call of the coach and selection panel and I trust them to make the right call in terms of what is going to be the best XI to represent our country. It’s never easy for someone like Reeza, or any other players who aren’t playing regularly for their national team. But I’m sure there will be opportunities down the line,” he added.
South Africa got off to a good start in the tournament with 2 wins from 3 completed games but then they lost to Pakistan and the Netherlands and crashed out of the world cup. South Africa could make it to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup for the third straight time after being beaten by India in the SF of the 2014 edition in Bangladesh.
