Bavuma ready to resume after testing injury period

IT has been 440 days since Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma walked into the middle to bat for the country in whites.

It was during that magical day at the Bullring, where the 34-year-old batted a visiting West Indies unit into the ground with a mammoth 280-ball 172, his second Test career century, his top score in the format and a match-winning knock at his home ground in Johannesburg.

Coming out of that series leading into last summer, the top-order batter could only foresee bigger and better things unfolding in his Test career. However, a series of hamstring problems have since limited the captain’s time out in the park.

From pulling a hamstring during last year’s ODI World Cup in India to pulling it again a month later, this time on the other leg during the Boxing Day Test in Centurion last summer, Bavuma could do nothing but watch the rest of the series on the side.

“It was a rather frustrating and mentally tough period or season to deal with and to reflect on. I was very much quite optimistic of my performances looking at the way that I ended the previous season,” Bavuma told Independent Newspapers in an exclusive interview.

“I had set certain expectations and standards for myself and not being able to have a proper go at them because of the body not being where it needs to be was rather quite tough to deal with.

“Coming up against a nation like India, guys who are playing really good cricket at the moment, you want to be out there testing your skills against a nation like that. Rather frustrating from that part and probably even harder watching from the side.

“I would’ve really wanted to be a part of that series, especially it being Dean’s (Elgar) farewell. Dean was one of the guys who took me under his wing, so it would’ve been nice to contribute in that course and give him a proper send-off.”

Following the conclusion of the domestic season, where Bavuma was part of the Lions side that won the 4-Day series and the Cricket SA T20 Challenge, and given that he no longer formed part of the Proteas T20 side, Bavuma went straight into a proper rehabilitation period.

For about three months, Bavuma concentrated on getting his body back to full fitness for the season ahead. But most importantly, as a new father, Bavuma could also spend time with his family, a privilege that professional sportsmen rarely get to enjoy with the busy cricket calendar of this day and age.

He says parenthood has given him a broader perspective on sport, and on life in general.

“It wasn’t a break of luxury. I’ve had the last two to three months to properly invest in my injury. Well, it’s not an injury anymore. I’ve come out stronger and better physically and mentally as well, being a lot rejuvenated and excited for the season ahead,” he said.

“It’s quite rare that players get these types of breaks, so when they come you grab them with both hands as much as it’s come in unfortunate circumstances. But it’s time to be at home. I’ve had a lot of that time to spend with the little one growing up and it’s probably the biggest highlight of my life so far.

“Like they say, it changes your life. It’s given me a bit of perspective on things and understanding that as much as cricket is everything I’ve known, it isn’t the be all and end all. (I am )still passionate about cricket, (I am) still ambitious, but I think there’s more to life than just the game.”

Bavuma is set to captain the squad assembling in Durban on Monday ahead of the tour to the West Indies.