After a long tough journey to the top, Pieter Malan finally made his Proteas debut and impressed pundits, fans and teammates alike, writes Naeemah Benjamin.

At the age of 30, Pieter Jacobus Malan made his Test debut for the Proteas at his home turf on 3rd January 2020.

Born and bred in Nelspruit. Malan, who went to Hoerskool Waterkloof, has played first-class cricket since 2007 for Northerns and the Titans.

He was released from his Titans contract in 2013 after playing 21 matches for the side scoring 970 runs at an average of 26.21 which included 7 fifties and 1 hundred.

“I don’t think I did myself any favours when I was younger,” said Malan.

“I took a lot of stuff for granted and didn’t really put in the hard work that in hindsight I needed to put in; Then also a matter of opportunities being limited and not taking it when I got them.

“It’s been a long road, but a road I’m glad I’ve been on. It’s made me a better cricketer and a better person. It’s been tough but worth it.”

He moved to the Cape around 2013/14 and played for Western Province and then went on to make his Cobras debut and flourished.

He played 27 matches scoring 1972 runs averaging 45.86 including 8 tons and 6 fifties.

Malan who has over 10 000 First Class runs was bound to don the whites for the Proteas. Although for the SA ‘A’ side for the tours to India and the Australia game he had underwhelming results and averaged 7.37.

“I probably thought it when I was way younger than I was now that it’s never going to happen but life works in funny ways,” he added.

“I sort of reached the point in my life that I decided if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It’s not something for me to worry about and luckily it did.”

Malan was called up to the Proteas for the Australian series as a replacement for Aiden Markram who was in doubt but unfortunately for Malan the wait for his debut continued.

The hard work and tons of runs continued for Malan at franchise level. He was the top scorer for the Cobras for the past two seasons and notched up over 800 runs in both ending third on the highest run scorers table for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.

He walked out to a packed Newlands stadium early in the first session on Day 2 of the second Test alongside Dean Elgar. The debutant looked comfortable for most parts until he pushed at a delivery outside off and was caught at slip for (5).

Second innings Malan showed resilience and so much maturity to lead the long day of batting the Proteas had ahead of them to try and hold for a draw.

For a player that has scored a bucket load of runs at franchise level, he showed why the mental strength and patience that was required.

Everyone was taken aback by how well he left the ball in particular. He has proved he has the patience and strength to stick around for lengthy periods.

As proven, he notched up his maiden Test fifty from 144 deliveries. The fight and grit shown by the debutant was mesmerizing.

The Proteas skipper has on a number of occasions touched on experienced players, who understand their games and has scored lots of runs domestically.

Both Malan and Van Der Dussen showed their wealth of domestic experience and their understanding of their own games.

“Probably in the last three or four years that’s been a massive part of my game,” said Malan.

“Leaving the ball, eliminating dismissals that I felt was soft especially as a new-ball player. You want to make them bowl at you.

“In South Africa, it’s tough opening against the new ball. There’s a lot of things happening. There’s nip. There’s bounce.

“The less you can give the bowlers… and then facing them in the third or fourth spells that’s where the real runs are.

“It wasn’t really a matter of rectifying that shot in the first innings, that was so out of character it was ridiculous.

“I don’t play that shot. Probably a bit of Test match debut, a bit of nerves. Just taking in the situation too much then just end up sparring at a ball I should’ve left.

“Where in the second innings I just tried to knuckle down and play the way I normally do and that seemed to work better.

“Somebody asked me earlier about being out there and feeling the pressure. That’s not pressuring, that’s privilege.

“Pressure is playing there in the semi-pro game, nobody watching, fighting for your career.

“Being out there, the Barmy Army, Jimmy Anderson running in felt like a video game at one stage.

“It’s unbelievable. I felt very privileged to be in the position to be able to fight for the team. To try and bat long and just be there for as long as I could.”