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Christo Buchner
Johannesburg – It will be exactly a year and a day after JP Duminy’s unexpected but outstanding debut at the Waca in Perth when South Africa and England get the first Test under way at Centurion on Wednesday.
“It feels much longer than a year ago,” Duminy said about the performances in Australia that captured the imagination of the cricketing world.
“I honestly can’t remember much about it. It all feels a little unreal. I do recall how I lifted my bat to acknowledge the applause for my century in Melbourne.”
He now finds himself at a crossroads in his promising cricket career. The challenge that England pose over the next month or so may be an important indicator for Duminy.
“Yes, I know what they say about one’s second season in international cricket. This is when I have to establish myself,” he said.
The English believe they have the recipe to counter him: Duminy will be fed a diet of short balls after losing his wicket twice to such deliveries in the one-day series.
“I’ve never really struggled with that. It’s just coincidence that I lost my wicket like that a few times,” he said.
“I think it’s just a psychological thing. You can’t allow it to stick in your head. Good luck to England if they think they have my number. I’m determined to prove the opposite.
“I’ll work hard at it over the next few days and face a lot of short balls in the nets to ensure I’m comfortable with it.
“The season with the Cobras (in the Champions League in India) started so well for me and I also got my first one-day international century (against Zimbabwe), but suddenly things are not feeling so good. I just have to get my timing right again.”
Duminy believes the English bowlers are a threat, even if they don’t have speedsters like Australia.
“James Anderson is probably their big danger man,” he said.
Johannesburg – It will be exactly a year and a day after JP Duminy’s unexpected but outstanding debut at the Waca in Perth when South Africa and England get the first Test under way at Centurion on Wednesday.
“It feels much longer than a year ago,” Duminy said about the performances in Australia that captured the imagination of the cricketing world.
“I honestly can’t remember much about it. It all feels a little unreal. I do recall how I lifted my bat to acknowledge the applause for my century in Melbourne.”
He now finds himself at a crossroads in his promising cricket career. The challenge that England pose over the next month or so may be an important indicator for Duminy.
“Yes, I know what they say about one’s second season in international cricket. This is when I have to establish myself,” he said.
The English believe they have the recipe to counter him: Duminy will be fed a diet of short balls after losing his wicket twice to such deliveries in the one-day series.
“I’ve never really struggled with that. It’s just coincidence that I lost my wicket like that a few times,” he said.
“I think it’s just a psychological thing. You can’t allow it to stick in your head. Good luck to England if they think they have my number. I’m determined to prove the opposite.
“I’ll work hard at it over the next few days and face a lot of short balls in the nets to ensure I’m comfortable with it.
“The season with the Cobras (in the Champions League in India) started so well for me and I also got my first one-day international century (against Zimbabwe), but suddenly things are not feeling so good. I just have to get my timing right again.”
Duminy believes the English bowlers are a threat, even if they don’t have speedsters like Australia.
“James Anderson is probably their big danger man,” he said.
