JP nearly gave up on Test cricket

Cape Town - JP Duminy, who has crafted a beautiful century in the first Test against Australia in Perth, nearly gave up on Test cricket when he was left out of the side for the New Year's Test against England this year. 

Duminy made way in that match, in front of his home crowd, to accommodate the inclusion of Quinton de Kock in the team. 

Duminy had experienced a lean run of form up until that point, and Ashwell Prince revealed how that moment affected the 32-year-old left-hander. 

Prince, commentating on SuperSport during day three of the Test on Saturday, was a national selector at the time the decision was taken to drop Duminy. 

"I remember I had to give him the news because the convenor of selectors, Linda Zondi, was not in town," Prince recalled. 

Prince said that Duminy was half expecting the chop and that he was on the verge of giving up on Test cricket. 

"He wasn't sure he had a role to play in the Test side anymore," Prince added. 

On Saturday, Duminy was simply superb as he cruised to his 5th Test century. 

What an innings! @jpduminy21 all class. Brilliant ??

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) November 5, 2016

What a beauty! #ProteaFire #100notOut #JouLekkerDing @jpduminy21 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/k9dXIXNJ69

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 5, 2016