As South Africa braces up for the tough tour to India -- post Hashim Amla's retirement -- one of its key batsman and South Africa A captain, Temba Bavuma, would want to use the current A series as a sort of preparation for the challenges ahead.
Bavuma said playing in alien sub continental conditions, prior to the main tour, will put him and other batsmen in good stead against a strong Indian side. “It is always nice to test yourself in foreign conditions like in the sub-continent. Obviously we will want to to get more game time in conditions which we are not used to. It is important to make runs and pick up wickets in such conditions which will be good for us,” said Bavuma.
Bavuma said South Africa will have to play well as a unit in the upcoming Test series to overcome the threat posed by world class Indian batsmen and bowlers, especially Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
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“Obviously any team will want to play well in India which has got a quality side. As batsmen we will like to challenge ourselves by against bowlers like Bumrah Jadeja and Ashwin. And it will also be a challenge to bowl to world class batsmen like Kohli, Pujara and others in the sub continental pitches. More than individual performances we will have to play well as a team in the upcoming tour,” he said.
Bavuma said the retirement of Amla has created a big vacuum in South African middle order and it was up to the regular Test batsmen like him to step up and fill in those gaps. “It is difficult for any team in the world to fill the void left behind by Amala's retirement. It is up to guys like me who have been playing test cricket regularly for last two years to step in and try to make it count,” he said.
“As a batter you are always greedy and would want more runs and centuries against your name. I am enjoying my journey as a Test cricketer and I am always trying to improve,” he said on his career
Bavuma feels, there is enough talent in South African cricket to overcome transitional phase the country is currently going through, after the loss of key players to Kolpak contract and retirement. “Kolpak contract is something which we cannot control but the academy structure in South Africa is good and we are able to get replacements pretty fast,” he said.
The 29-year-old batsman, who has scored a century in his short two match one day career, said he would like to work his way back into the one day squad and sees the current A series as an opportunity to grab selectors attention again. The South African A captain also said the current A series against India A will be competitive as both sides have quality players yearning to do well.
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