‘Wouldn’t be surprised if Bavuma takes over after Faf’

PORT ELIZABETH: Temba Bavuma is not among the 12 South Africa players who have assembled in Port Elizabeth to prepare for the third Test against England, but he remains close to the conversation. So close, that assistant coach Enoch Nkwe has indicated that if Bavuma finds form, he could be candidate for the national captaincy in future.

“I strongly believe he (Bavuma) is a good player,” Nkwe said on Tuesday. “And he’s in the process of making sure that — from a mental, emotional and skills point of view — when he gets an opportunity to come back, whether it’s in the next Test match or in a different format, he takes ownership of his position and does 10 times more than what he has done.”

“He has been unlucky. Let’s be honest. There’s been times where he got 95 not out and he was probably one big hit to get over the line and he was unfortunate. There’s been times where he got 70, 80. But also sometimes people tend to forget that the situations he has come in for South Africa have been challenging. If maybe a bit of luck had gone his way, he would have got two or three more hundreds but those things we’ve put behind us,” he said.

Asked if he sees Bavuma becoming captain of the side in future, Nkwe said: “In my mind, yes. I can see that happening. But he does understand that he needs to put in some performances. The future could be in a year’s time, it could be in two years’ time, we don’t know.”

“Having worked with him in the last year-and-a-half, he has got the qualities, there’s no question around that. I wouldn’t be surprised if, after Faf, Bavuma takes over. That will be great for South African cricket.”