Wihan Lubbe is determined to work hard to pursue his dream of one day representing the Proteas, writes Abhai Sawkar.

It’s a new year for cricket in South Africa, and it’s a new beginning. The T20 World Cup draws closer months, and it couldn’t be a better time to get the preparation underway.

The Mzansi Super League, which concluded in December 2019, was an ideal chance for both newcomers and experienced campaigners to throw their hats in the ring for a crack at international cricket. Considering the fact that batting has been a hot topic in recent discussions, there’s definitely an urge to rectify. Among the uncapped South African batsmen that took part, Wihan Lubbe, the Lions left-hander, has emerged as an encouraging find.

Lubbe was part of the 2018 MSL campaign but only got a chance to play three games, two for the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants and one for the Jozi Stars.

However, his luck changed for the better when the Durban Heat snapped him up for the latest edition. He had to wait until four games into the season to get his first opportunity, but more importantly, patience paid off and he promptly capitalized.

A swashbuckling 83 from 42 balls studded with 7 fours and 5 sixes might have gone in vain against the Cape Town Blitz, but it was a sign of discernible talent and the quest to maximize potential. Severe weather had an adverse effect on the Heat’s MSL campaign – they came up tantalizingly short of playoff qualification by one point. However, there were plenty of positives to take, not only from the tournament as a whole but also from relatively more frequent game time.

“The MSL was a great experience,” says Lubbe. “I loved playing a bit more and getting to share the field with some of the best in the game. The standard of the tournament is definitely a bit better than the first year and I believe it will grow into a respected tournament all over the world.”

Lubbe’s first go in the MSL was an exhibition of robust strokeplay square of the wicket plus finesse and style to go with it, too. He’d finish with 175 runs in 6 games, averaging close to 30, but there was another number that stood out – a tremendous strike rate of 184. As a matter of fact, that’s the best strike rate among the top 20 players on the run charts of this MSL. Coming in at No 3, he often signalled his intentions to build a brisk innings right from the outset.

In addition to his batting, Lubbe’s off-spin has been steadily improving over the course of his career. In the last group stage game for the Durban Heat, Lubbe opened the bowling against the Paarl Rocks and conceded 21 runs from 3 overs.

“I definitely see myself as a batting all-rounder,” Lubbe confidently stated. “I have always worked hard to have an extra skill to offer teams that I play for.” And that’s very much a fair claim – he has a five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, as well as best figures of 3 for 20 in the shortest format.

The timeline to the limelight has been quite the adventure: it all started off with a first-class debut in 2013 for North West, and he entered the franchise scene for the 2016-17 season with the Highveld Lions.

By then he had a well-established first-class record from the provincial level, but the situation improved exponentially in 2018. Just prior to the inaugural MSL, Lubbe blitzed a barnstorming 36-ball 102, with 5 fours and 11 sixes in the Africa T20 Cup.

This was the innings that catapulted him to his first MSL gig. Patience and indefatigable diligence have been a mantra for Lubbe, and when it comes to motivation, he looks up to one of the relatively late starters to international cricket who was known to give it his all and succeed.

At 27, Lubbe’s at a point where he’ll be playing his best cricket, and one can resolutely say the never-give-up attitude is ubiquitous among the greats of the game.

“From a cricket idol perspective, I have always loved Michael Hussey – the fact that he had to work hard and keep grafting before getting a chance to play for Australia and then became one of the best in the world. He never gave up on his dream.”

Furthermore, he credits his coaches from his earlier cricketing days for his burgeoning quest for higher honours. It’s been a memorable journey, and the mentoring he’s received has definitely proven instrumental.

“I have had a few people in my life that have played a major role in my cricket career and life. My high school coach Werner Faul was the first to have a very big impact and my coach at varsity, Conrad de Swardt, was another. Both played a big part in my development.”

It’s no secret that Lubbe passionately enjoys all his cricket. He has a pretty strong first-class record with an average of 37, and has been very productive at franchise level. The 2018-19 4-day tournament was part of a breakthrough season – he scored two centuries, one of which is his current personal best score of 166 against the Titans.

“I have had a few special innings, my knock against the Blitz in this years MSL is up there as one of my most memorable with my first 100 for the Lions. I am a big fan of all three formats so it will be wrong for me to pick only one.”

Cricket aside, Lubbe is also a talented golfer, too. During the domestic season, he’s based in Gauteng, but the Pretoria native expressed his liking for the coastal atmosphere as well.

“Yeah, Durban was great, the rain held us back a little bit but apart from that I really enjoyed it,” he added. “We played a bit of golf when granted the opportunity, and I am a big golfer in my spare time.”

Now, let’s segue to the current first-class season. In late December, Lubbe kickstarted his stint in the 4-Day Series with a superb century against the Titans, and the Lions would go on to win by 161 runs.

In the very next game against the Dolphins, an attacking 55-ball 65 added some priceless quick runs, and the Lions registered two wins in two games.

Finally, in the following, he’s racked up his best bowling figures in this format: 5 for 43 against the Dolphins. The all-round potential is immense, and Lubbe is a testament to the fact that plenty of promising talent is gradually but staunchly stepping up to the plate during a tumultuous phase for South African cricket.

The search for more young bolters will continue, and Lubbe has, so far, pressed a strong case. As the legendary late great NBA star Kobe Bryant quotes – “Dedication sees dreams come true.”