Wish the finely-talented and amongst the most regarded of South African cricketers in the past would’ve had a thing or two to say about Faf du Plessis as well, with regards to the right-handed batsman’s exclusion in the World T20 squad for 2021. But then again, it’s South Africa and with all due respect, expect the unexpected, the old cliched saying that perhaps fills fans into the theatres for a Bond or MI series holds true for their cricket.
But anyways, here’s what the famous wicket-keeping batsman, who was a core member of the side in the Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Kallis days had to say about the forthcoming IPL and the involvement of the Protea talents in it:
“It’s crucial for the South Africans to play in the IPL!” The former cricketer remembered most for his doggedness and agility on the field during the great era of Proteas cricket shared the following perhaps with the following idea.
The idea that since the forthcoming IPL, the biggest party in town, remember according to most who love T20, is being held in the same destination as the next big event after it- the T20 world cup.
So why not have the players enter the same turf that would be beneficial for them immediately in the mother of all T20 battles: the 2021-bound T20 world cup, right?
At least, that’s the perspective one would get from this.
And perhaps that is also the reason why someone like Lungi Ngidi straight away went to participate in the soon-to-begin IPL in the UAE, perhaps in a bid to prepare himself better, not thinking about the great monies involved, right?
And maybe that was also since, he’d eventually want to contribute even better to the very national duty he left midway behind, remember the just-concluded T20I series against the Sri Lankans?
What was fantastic, especially to the devoted Protea fan was that the visitors to Sri Lanka whitewashed the hosts. Not so often has such a thing happened, if you discount the sensational mighty series win against the West Indies, in the Caribbean, albeit in Tests.
But nonetheless, what augurs well for the team that oozes a sense of unbridled passion the moment one says Proteas fire is that both Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks, matchwinners of the final T20I have ended the tour on a high.
One notes, having been an exceptional keeper, Mark Boucher would certainly have been in great spirits having seen de Kock’s recent form, something that began peaking in the Caribbean where the marvellous Test century cam to the fore.
But then again, why playing the IPL, in particular, would help the redoubtable unit?
“It will be a great experience as long as guys look after themselves and peak at the right time,” said Mark Boucher.
Talking about South Africa’s series win over Sri Lanka, Boucher said: “This team realised that we are definitely not the finished product, so there’s a lot of things we speak about. We had a good chat about the lessons we’ve learnt and where we want to go as a team. We tied the record for the most T20 wins by a South African team.”
“That was one of the records that we were playing for. We understand that going into a World Cup each game is as important as the others and this becomes a habit. This is just part of the growth of the team,” he added.