Transformation is mostly seen as a key factor that has led to the national team’s drop in quality but in actual fact, it is the opposite. The fifth round of the domestic 4-Day Series reminded us once again how transformation can aid players to receive opportunities. | ✍️ Ongama Gcwabe
The key focus is on the drawn match between the Lions and the Warriors at the Wanderers which started on the 19th to the 23rd of February 2023.
The Lions fielded a strong XI that included fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, Test captain Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder who too were recalled to the Test squad to face the West Indies after missing out from the tour to Australia in December 2022.
On the other hand, the Eastern Cape-based Warriors fielded an XI that mostly had unproven but promising youngsters. Amongst those youngsters was Kyle Jacobs, a young coloured batter from the Northern areas of Gqeberha.
Jacobs is mostly known for his leg-spin bowling ability but Warriors coach Robin Peterson saw more than a spinner in Jacobs; he saw a batter that had potential.
Because of his sound batting technique, coach Peterson saw fit to test Jacobs at the top of the order as an opening batter. This meant that Peterson had to leave out either Jordan Herman or Wihan Lubbe who have been outstanding as an opening pair for the Warriors especially with the return of Marco Jansen unsettling the team’s demographics.
Eventually, Lubbe was left out and Jacobs opened the batting for the Warriors at the Wanderers. Opening only for the third time in his 4-Day Series career, Jacobs returned figures of 18 runs off 66 deliveries in the first innings. That is eleven overs that he spent at the crease facing an attack that included Rabada, Tladi Bokako, Malusi Siboto, Lutho Sipamla and Bjorn Fortuin.
To be frank, even Test match openers rarely last that long in an attack that has Rabada.
In the third innings of the match, Jacobs scored 54 off 135 deliveries, a knock that included six 4s and two 6s.
“He was outstanding,” said Peterson on Jacob’s performance in the match.
“Even KG (Rabada) came to him and said you’ve got real steal and determination,” he added.
Jacobs previously opened the batting for the Warriors for the first time last season against Paarl Rocks and against North West Dragons earlier this season.
It is important to note that Jacobs stood no chance of getting a go in the 4-Day series unless there was an injury to one of the openers at the Warriors. Also, looking at the composition of the Warriors team, transformation played a part in Jacobs being given a run in such a crucial role with no experience or proof of him succeeding as an opener in the format.
Regardless of all the ‘red flags’, coach Peterson gave the youngster an opportunity and simultaneously left out one of the Warriors’ top run-getters and a Protea in Wihan Lubbe.
This one-selection instance at the Warriors beautifully captured both sides of the transformation debate. For Lubbe, it is not a fun experience and it can’t be fun for any player in his position.
However, from Jacobs’ side of the story, it is a life-changing opportunity. It is an opportunity that will certainly change the trajectory of his career to higher heights.
Lastly, for the Warriors’ 4-Day series team, the options at the top of the order lengthened and the same can be said for the talent pool for opening batters in South African cricket.
Is transformation a hindrance to South Africa’s progress? Or is it actually helping the game grow in South Africa?
Photo: Kyle Jacobs/Instagram
