Yes, I am Black, That’s My Skin; I Play Cricket Because I Love It: Temba Bavuma

For a few years now, the right-handed batsman Temba Bavuma has grabbed the headlines for various reasons. He received flak from critics for his continuous failures across the formats still, the batsman got regular opportunities in the quota of ‘black players’. On Tuesday, he lets his anguish out while speaking at the post-match press conference at Cape Town.

Put in to bat, England’s middle-order struggled after the openers – Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy – had stitched a half-century stand. England stumbled to 131 for six in 28 overs.

However, a rescue act led by Woakes and Joe Denly helped England post a par total of courtesy a 92-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Chasing 258, the Proteas had little trouble in overhauling the total, with skipper Quinton de Kock and Bavuma putting on a 173-run stand for the second wicket, setting up South Africa’s chase, which was eventually completed in 47.4 overs. Though De Kock scored a century, Bavuma was unfortunate, as he missed it by two runs.

I am in the team is because of performances – Temba Bavuma

Speaking after the game, Bavuma stated that he is not in the team because his ‘skin is black’ but for his scores he registered in the game of cricket. He also expressed his love for the game, which he chose as a career option.

“It has been hard. It’s not so much the dropping part, all players get dropped, everyone goes through slumps of not scoring well. The awkwardness and uncomfortability from my side is when you are thrown into talks of transformation,” Bavuma was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“Yes, I am black, that’s my skin. But I play cricket because I love it. I’d like to think the reason I am in the team is because of performances I have put forward in my franchise side, and also for the national team, whenever I have been able to. The discomfort was there, having to navigate me around all those types of talks. Players get dropped, I am not the last guy to get dropped. That’s something we’ve come to accept,” he added.

All in all, it was a brilliant knock from Bavuma on Tuesday at Newlands. Now, both the teams will travel to Durban for the second ODI scheduled for Friday.

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