Everyone has favourite players — even the players have favourite players — but very few of the 15 chosen to represent South Africa at the World Cup will have been more joyously received than Morné van Wyk.
Certainly not among his fellow professionals, at any rate.
Identified as a special talent worthy of extra investment way back in 2003 by then national coach Eric Simons, the 23-year-old Van Wyk seemed destined to make a mark on the international landscape. Sadly, from the moment he made his debut, it seemed that events were pre-ordained to conspire against him.
The Proteas proceeded without undue concern to the final of a triangular one-day series against England that year (disposing of Zimbabwe en route) and their supporters were given the opportunity to see Van Wyk in national colours for the first time in the final at Lord’s. It was an eyebrow-raiser to many that the new man would bat at three, but he certainly looked the part, making a stylish 17 off 20 balls.
Unfortunately, South Africa were bowled out for 107 and humiliated. Van Wyk was stigmatised. Simons, in so many ways a visionary coach too far ahead of his time to be appreciated in this blame-focused country, was blamed for everything, including the senior players’ collective inability to accept personal responsibility. Van Wyk, perhaps, was seen as one of Simons’s “follies”.
So, he returned to Bloemfontein and knuckled down to his provincial career, somewhat chastened but, admirably, never bitter. He married young and started a family, thereby gaining a balance and perspective on life usually only achieved by cricketers as they contemplate retirement.
The runs and centuries, often huge, kept coming — to such an extent, in fact, that they were taken for granted, not necessarily by his teammates but certainly by the selectors, who refused or were unable to look at his record as a batsman in isolation from his wicketkeeping skills.
Simply trying
Like Nic Pothas and so many other ambitious glovemen, Van Wyk was unable to make his mark because of the other Mark (Boucher), who dominated the position in all forms of the game for more than a decade.
“I just put my head down and tried to be the best cricketer I could be. When I was asked to be captain I tried to be the best leader I could be, but mostly, I tried to be the best person I could be, especially as a father and husband,” Van Wyk said this week.
“It’s important to grow and move forward in all aspects of life but cricket can be pretty hard work if you’re not enjoying it and challenging yourself to get better,” he said, with characteristic good humour.
So he never gave up the dream then, even when he hit his 30s? “No, definitely not.” Did he have an inkling he would be in the squad? An early sign?
“I worked as hard as I possibly could this season in the knowledge that big scores — and a winning team — would be hard to ignore. My hopes began to fade until that innings (a T20 national record — 50 off 25 balls) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, but that’s also when I realised how much strain my friends and family were taking waiting for the squad to be picked! More than me —
“On the one hand, I was desperate to be selected, but on the other, I was calm and ready to face more pain. You have to be – life goes on. But by 9pm I had got a message, so I sat down in front of the TV to watch the announcement.
“It took me back to the days of my childhood, watching Springbok and, later, Proteas squads being named. I wanted to know what it felt like hearing and seeing one’s own name there.”
Team player
Naturally, he is equally desperate to play a role, but is as philosophical about that as he was about his selection: “I will be as good a squad member as I possibly can be, offering support wherever I can to whoever wants or needs it. I’ll be there for everyone.” Just as he has been for the Knights (formerly Eagles) for the best part of the past decade.
Intriguingly, and with a twinkle in his eye, he sees a symmetry in his return to national duty. “My debut series was Graeme’s first as captain. The World Cup will be his last as ODI captain. And we have hardly seen each other in the eight years in between! The wheel is completing a full turn, but it won’t end the way it started because so much ground has been covered from start to finish.
“We have a young squad and, hopefully, we will play fearless cricket. Sure, we haven’t passed the exams against India, but this is studying. We write the actual paper during the tournament. And I think this will be our year, I really do.”
Many of his peers will tell you that South Africa’s chances will improve if Van Wyk opens the batting rather than carries the drinks.
Whether it is the Proteas’ year or not, the 31-year-old gentleman will be welcomed home like a hero by wife Carnien and their three children, Eran (8), Mikyla (6) and Samantha Joy (1). Provided he brings the kids presents, of course, and doesn’t forget to put the bins out on Wednesday night, and fix the Kreepy, and take the dogs to the vet — and all the other real world stuff.
In the absence of any genuine, middle order all rounders to add much needed batting depth, national selection convener Andrew Hudson has fudged the issue by declaring that Warriors batsman Colin Ingram will bat at number seven. Apart from the peculiarity of the decision to announce the team’s strategy to the world a month before the tournament even begins, it leaves the Proteas looking very one-dimensional and more dependent than ever before on Jacques Kallis to perform with bat and ball.
A better way of creating depth in the batting line-up may be to use a “pinch hitter” at the top of the order when the ball is hard and skidding on to the bat. The first 10 overs on the subcontinent are the best for clean ball strikers rather than the last 10 everywhere else in the world.
Morné van Wyk, a regular opener, would blossom in the role, while spinner Robin Peterson might also prosper. Johan Botha could even be tried in the role, while providing another bowling option.
The team’s greatest problem is the lack of bowlers with experience of bowling at the end of the innings. It is a specialist job which requires mental and technical skills. Dale Steyn, by virtue of being the best in the world, will do it from one end, but Lonwabo Tsotsobe lacks the pace required, Wayne Parnell is far too erratic and Morné Morkel struggles to bowl yorkers. Poor old Kallis, it looks like yet another job has landed on his plate.
Squad: Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Morné Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Robin Peterson, Morné van Wyk, Imran Tahir