South Africa's cricket captain, Temba Bavuma, has firmly stated that head coach Shukri Conrad's controversial use of the word "grovel" during the recent Test series in India is not a distraction for the team. Bavuma emphasized there was no need for him to clarify the remark as the Proteas look ahead to the ongoing ODI series.
Moving Past the 'Grovel' Controversy
After the fourth day of the second Test in Guwahati, coach Shukri Conrad said his team batted long to make India "really grovel," a phrase famously and controversially used by England's Tony Greig in 1976. When asked about it, Bavuma downplayed its significance. "No, I don't think it is distracting and no it’s not for me to clarify," the skipper said on Tuesday, as the team prepared for the second ODI in Raipur.
Bavuma, who missed the first ODI, indicated the team has moved on from the incident, focusing its energy on the current white-ball contest against a formidable Indian side.
Respect for Indian Stalwarts Kohli and Rohit
Bavuma acknowledged that the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma significantly strengthens the Indian team. India leads the three-match series 1-0 after an opening win by 17 runs, powered by Kohli's 52nd ODI century and Rohit's 57.
"The inclusion of those two guys does bolster the team," Bavuma admitted. "These are two guys who have a lot of experience and a lot of skill and that can only benefit the team. It is not something that we are not aware of."
He recalled watching Rohit Sharma play in the 2007 T20 World Cup while he was still in school, highlighting the long-standing class of the Indian duo. "These guys have been around, so there is nothing new. These are world-class players," he said, adding that facing them makes the series more exciting.
Team Focus and Praise for Jansen
Bavuma refused to see the first ODI loss as a major setback, noting the margin was close. "We were 17 runs short of them. The gap between the batting performances wasn't a big one," he analyzed.
He reserved high praise for all-rounder Marco Jansen, who smashed a blistering 39-ball 70 in the series opener. "His contributions, with bat or with the ball, have been immense to our success," Bavuma said, confident that Jansen ranks among the world's top all-rounders.
Call for More Test Cricket Against Top Nations
On a broader note, Bavuma expressed a desire shared by many players for more Test cricket against strong opponents like India. He wished the recent two-Test series had been longer.
"A lot of us would have wanted to see it going to three or four-match series," he stated. "When it's a side like India, they would have raised the standard, which would have forced us to raise our standards as well." He humorously added that some players are "getting a little bit old" and would like such a series sooner rather than later.
Bavuma clarified that scheduling decisions lie with "the people in suits" at Cricket South Africa, not the players. The second ODI of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium in Raipur.
