"Not a surprise that I'm not there" - Temba Bavuma on his absence from South Africa's T20 squad
South African Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma admitted that the T20 side is better off without him and wants to fully concentrate on long-form cricket. The right-handed batter feels focussing on 50-over and Test cricket will place him in good stead for the future.
After South Africa's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2022 hosted by Australia, Bavuma received widespread criticism for his underperformance throughout the tournament. The 34-year-old managed only 70 runs in five matches, averaging a woeful 17.50 alongside a strike rate of 112.90. He missed out on selection in the World Cup squad this year and last played a T20I in 2023.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the 2nd Test against West Indies, Bavuma said the T20 team looks better without him in it and he wasn't surprised at not being included. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, the veteran said:
"It's not a surprise that I'm not there, but me being in the T20 squad would've raised more eyebrows. It's better that way that I'm not there. My focus now is on Test cricket and I'm going to try to play as best as I can in the format. There's also 50-over cricket that's coming in the next few months and the one thing that I can trust is that if I get going in Test and 50-over cricket, everything else will follow from there."
The Cape Town-born cricketer also came under scrutiny due to his performances in the 2023 World Cup. He scored 145 runs in eight matches in the tournament, averaging 18.13, including a duck in the semi-final against Australia in Kolkata as the Proteas suffered a defeat.
Temba Bavuma plays a fighting knock but West Indies hang on for a draw in the first Test
Bavuma played a fighting knock of 86 in South Africa's first innings of the opening Test against the West Indies in Trinidad. The skipper's innings was the bedrock of the tourists' first-innings total of 357 as they eked out a sizeable 124-run lead.
They later set 298 for the home side to win, but rainfall for the most of the match meant that South Africa didn't have enough time to force a victory. Alick Athanaze's 92 proved to be the catalyst for the West Indies' escape.