The subcontinent conditions suit my style, says in form Tony de Zorzi ahead of series decider.

Proteas top-order batter Tony de Zorzi says he went back to his routines on and off the field to be able to turn his form around in the ongoing tour to Pakistan.

A little over a month ago, many wouldn’t have had De Zorzi in their Proteas squads, let alone a playing XI, because the 28-year-old was struggling for runs at the time.

He showed good form during the white ball tours of Australia and England; however, he still couldn’t put together big runs. When he got injured in England, his involvement in the ongoing Pakistan tour looked even less likely.

However, the left-hander has been able to make a full recovery and was selected in the Test squad against India next week, likely replacing Temba Bavuma.

In the first Test, De Zorzi scored a century and a half-century in the second innings. The batter has taken that form into the recently concluded T20I series and the ongoing ODI series in Pakistan.

Reflecting on the lean patch that he had in the green and gold, De Zorzi highlighted having to go back to his routines and detaching results from who he is as a person and a cricketer as his learnings.

“I think firstly, it was basically just being able to try to detach yourself from those results. The runs were hard to come by, so I don't think in that period you become a bad person or a bad cricketer,” De Zorzi told the media on Friday.

“You just have to go back to trying to find your routines that worked for you on and off the field, and then being able to detach those results from who you are as a person and who you are as a cricketer.

“I think a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes that most people don't know, and no one really knows. Those are things that you do in the dark.

"Often, I think sometimes in those periods, you have to make peace with the fact that a lot of your hard work might not give you instant results, but you have to keep doing it.

“So, I think that's just something I went back to, something I was kind of focusing on. I didn't know whether I'd be on any of these tours, especially not the Test one. So I just made peace that I was going to do hard work.”

There seems to be something about the subcontinent that makes De Zorzi come to life as he has scored both his Test centuries in the spin-friendly conditions.

The left-hander pointed out that the subcontinent conditions suit his style of play.

“I think the conditions probably suit my style of play in terms of the pace and bounce of the wickets. Obviously, a lot more spin is involved, which I prefer from a technical aspect,” De Zorzi said. 

“I've mentioned it before that in the subcontinent, especially in places like Pakistan, Bangladesh, you kind of get into a routine because you can't leave the hotel.

“So, it's a bit of a grind on and off. It's almost just staying in that work mindset and only really focused on the cricket. There's nothing else to focus on.

“There's nothing else to do. I think Ricks describes it perfectly. Everything is a bit of a grind, but you kind of make peace with that.

“And anyone out of all the cricketers in the country, anyone would be happy to do that grind. So you just have to remind yourself that you're great. You're lucky to be here, and it's your job.”

De Zorzi scored a brilliant 76 during the second ODI against Pakistan on Thursday, helping South Africa level the series 1-1 going into the third and final match in Faisalabad on Saturday.

The left-hander was pleased that they could give coach Shukri Conrad had asked of the team heading into the second match: a well-rounded performance.

“I think it was a more rounded performance. I think a lot of individuals could take personal confidence from the game. I think Nqaba (Peter) was brilliant, bowling some tough overs at the end, and Nandre (Burger) did what he is famous and known for,“ said De Zrozi.

“So, I think a lot of guys put their hands up, and I think the coach asked for a well-rounded performance, and we're quite happy we could deliver it.”

The third ODI is set to get underway at 12.00 SAST on Saturday.