Donovan Ferreira on Proteas return: Coach Shuks has given me freedom to express myself

Donovan Ferreira had been waiting impatiently for 10 months to get another crack in a Proteas T20I shirt.

The hard-hitting Titan has spent all this time honing his trade in franchise leagues all around the world, ranging from India’s IPL to MLC in the US and The Hundred in England, in a bid to win back his place in the national team. 

The main obstacle was, of course, the presence of two of the finest short-format “finishers” in David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen within the Proteas’ middle-order.

But with Miller ruled out of the England series after picking up a hamstring strain and Klaasen now retired from international cricket, the opportunity was finally on the horizon.

Unfortunately, it was presented on a "shambles of a night” at a rain-soaked Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday evening with the Proteas’ innings reduced to nine overs.

It became even more of a challenge when the heavens opened again to shorten it further to a mere 7.5 overs. 

But somehow it was enough time for Ferreira to show his value with a quickfire 25 not out off just 11 balls (3x6) that earned him the Player of the Match award in the Proteas’ 14-run DLM method victory.

“Nice doing it for your country, making an impact in a shortened game is nice for me,” Ferreira said. "Can go anyway, but pleased the guys got over the line.”

Ferreira was particularly good against spin, taking down England’s premier leg-spinner Adil Rashid with two maximums in the sixth over. 

He crunched the first six over wide long-on after Rashid tempted him with a looping delivery, while the second was reminiscent of Klaasen at his very best as he sat deep in his crease before belting the googly deep over the mid-wicket fence. 

The 27-year-old also cleared his front leg, and deposited seamer Craig Over back over his head with the final strike before the rain curtailed the Proteas’ innings.

“I wasn't thinking of the boundary sizes, just watching the ball and it suits my game to hit straight,” said Ferreira.

“It was just about us backing ourselves. Anything can happen in a reduced game, so it’s about giving yourself a bit of time and not just play reckless cricket.

“We're playing with freedom and with the hitters in our team and the guys that bat explosively. 

“It's for me to express myself... not putting pressure on myself. The coach (Shukri Conrad) has given me freedom." 

Ferreira will be hoping to maintain this momentum in the second match of the series at Old Trafford tomorrow (Friday) as he seeks to cement a place in Conrad’s plans for next year’s T20 World Cup on the subcontinent. 

The Proteas will most likely be without Keshav Maharaj though after the left-arm spinner suffered a hamstring strain during the warm-ups in Cardiff. 

Maharaj joins a growing Proteas’ injury list after seamer Lungi Ngidi was also ruled out of the series on Wednesday with a right hamstring strain.

Left-arm quick Nandre Burger was added to the squad and is available for the Old Trafford clash.

Full Proteas squad for 2nd T20I at Old Trafford

Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs Lizaad Williams.

Start: 7:30pm TV: SuperSport