Tembva Bavuma will make history as he is set to become the first black African specialist batsman who would play forSouth Africa in the second Test against West Indies that gets underway at St George’s Park on Boxing Day.
Bavuma would take his place in South Africa’s lineup, with Quinton de Kock ruled out of the remainder of the three-match series with an ankle ligament injury, if the selectors continue their policy of fielding seven batsmen.
Bavuma’s potential debut is a big deal for South Africa, who have fielded only five black African players since readmission in 1991 and have not had any since the fast bowler Makhaya Ntini’s last Test at the end of 2009, The Guardian reported.
Despite the fact that almost 80 percent of South Africa’s population is black, Ntini is the only cricketer to have held down a regular place in the national side, taking 390 wickets in 101 Tests.
The fast bowlers Monde Zondeki, Mfuneko Ngam and Lonwabo Tsotsobe and the wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile managed a combined 17 Tests.
Bavuma said that he has come to realise that there are a lot of people out there that he represents, adding that he is not just playing for himself. He also said that he is aware, but it doesn’t really change the ballgame for him.
Born in Langa, Cape Town’s oldest township, Bavuma has played for South Africa Under-19s. He forged a successful first-class career, scoring 3,631 runs at an average of almost 36 and hit a career-best 162 against Australia A during a South Africa A tour in August, the report added.
