SA vs AUS: Heinrich Klaasen Opens Up About His Journey To Maturity As A Batter, Highlights Influence Of His Role Model AB de Villiers

South African middle order batter Heinrich Klaasen revealed that legendary batter AB de Villiers influenced his batting performances. Heinrich Klaasen mentioned that he admires AB de Villiers’s shots, but needs to understand when to use them effectively.

Heinrich Klaasen played an outstanding innings against Australia in the fourth ODI at the Supersport Park in Centurion on September 15. The right-handed batter scored 174 runs off 83 balls with the help of 13 sixes and as many fours to help the team level the series at 2-2.

Explored A Lot With It And It Didn’t Work – Heinrich Klaasen

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Heinrich Klaasen emphasized the importance of maturing in his own game and understanding when to effectively use AB de Villiers’ shots.

“You look up to some role models and you want to be like them – like AB de Villiers. You want to play all the shots but the genius behind guys like AB was knowing when to play them,” Klaasen said.

“For me, I explored a lot with it and it didn’t work. It was about maturing into my game and knowing my options are,” he added.

Klaasen came to the crease when the team’s score was 120/3 in 25.1 overs. He scored 24 runs off his first 25 balls before accelerating his innings. He smashed 150 runs off the next 58 balls, helping the team reach a mammoth total of 416/5.

It Shows My Mindset Was Good – Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen emphasized the importance of staying in the moment, citing an instance where he didn’t even know how many sixes he had hit. He described the experience as “awesome” and a rare occurrence in a cricketer’s career.

“What’s changed in my career is that I am playing every ball as it is and for me to stay in that mindset. I don’t recap what I have done the previous ball or think of what I might do the next ball,” he further added.

“Tim David asked me how many sixes I hit and I said I didn’t know. It shows my mindset was good and I was only focusing on what’s coming in that moment. I have to go back and look at it. It was awesome out there and you don’t often get that feeling – maybe once or twice in your career.”

I Can Just React To Every Ball – Heinrich Klaasen

Klaasen concluded by saying how a change in his approach came about after being dropped in 2021. He stated that he worked with coaches, focused on simplifying his game, and developed a reactive batting style.

“The coaches said to me, ‘You are using too many options. Let’s limit yourself’. I am batting within myself at the start to make sure I get a good platform, and then I can just react to every ball: stand still, watch the ball and wherever I need to hit it.”

“My body will take over and just react. It took me a couple of months to get back to my best and a lot of hard work.”

Also read: SA vs AUS: “A Knock To Remember For Ages” – Fans React As Heinrich Klaasen’s Blitzkrieg Takes South Africa To 416/5 vs Australia In 4th ODI