EDITOR’S NOTE

G’DAY MATE

The T20 World Cup is almost like a London bus. It doesn’t come around for five years and then suddenly there are two in 12 months. However, as we all know, a year in cricket is equivalent to an eternity. And the Proteas are heading to Australia with a whole new set of dark clouds hovering over them.

The dramas related to Quinton de Kock that engulfed the team in the UAE and coach Mark Boucher’s future may all have been finalised, but the focus has now turned onto captain Temba Bavuma’s form and position within the team.

We tackle it head on in this edition with IOL Sport scribe Ashfak Mohamed believing Bavuma, as the elected captain of the side, should be judged on his performances Down Under. Outside of Bavuma, the Proteas though are arguably in better shape, particularly the batting unit, than they were a year ago even without the injured Rassie van der Dussen.

The return of the prodigal son Rilee Rossouw, who has “UNFINISHED BUSINESS”, has added an extra dimension to the Proteas since the departures of legends AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis. But it is not only Rossouw’s brilliance that has Proteas fans believing that 2022 could finally be the year that the Holy Grail is returned to Mzansi.

Every so often a youngster emerges from the wilderness and that has everyone sitting on the edges of the seats in anticipation. In a short space of time Tristan Stubbs has morphed into that for the Proteas. Through the fearlessness of youth, Stubbs - still only 22 - has become South Africa’s “X-MAN” with the all-round game to be the difference in the crunch moments.

Stubbs, and the Proteas, will no doubt face fierce opposition from Pakistan’s “EAGLE” and the resilience of the home Australian team who are chasing a unique double after last year’s success in the UAE.

On a personal level, this will be the first time I won’t be covering a T20 World Cup “live” since its inception in 2007, but I will be following the progress of the Proteas in the early hours with you here back home.

Enjoy

Zaahier Adams | @ZaahierAdams | zaahier.adams@iol.co.za