Tayo Walbrugh’s sequence of successes insinuates prodigious ability and potential, however, below the surface, it wasn’t a fully smooth road for the young batsman, writes Abhai Sawkar.

Franchise cricket is the ultimate pinnacle for budding South African youngsters. It’s the early realization of potential and a priceless opportunity in itself.

Very few have the unique, commendable achievement of earning a franchise call-up in their inaugural professional season.

However, this has been exactly the case for Tayo Walbrugh, the 23-year-old top-order batsman who featured in three Momentum One Day Cup games for the Cobras.

In October 2019, Walbrugh debuted for Western Province in first-class and 50-over cricket. He got off to a robust start, amassing 260 runs in his first 6 games in the Provincial One-Day Challenge, with two scores above 90.

He still was a complete newcomer to the professional scene, but little did he know that his breakthrough beginning would bring about an unbelievable surprise in early March.

The Cape Cobras added him to their squad for the game against the Knights. For Walbrugh, this was a lot to process in little time, and the excitement was palpable.

“It was actually quite an interesting day. It was a Wednesday evening and I got a message from Paul Adams, my Western Province coach, saying that I have been requested to play in a Cobras inter-squad game the next day,” said Walbrugh to Cricket Fanatics Magazine.

“I remember turning up to the game confused and very nervous. To be honest, I had no idea what was going on and most of the guys were clueless too, I was just grateful for the opportunity.

“After the game, I went to pack my bag and coach Ashwell Prince came over to me and said that I’m going to be included in the squad for the Knights game. I went straight home and told my mom, who was so happy for me and then met up with a few friends to celebrate over a beer.”

The spirited Capetonian’s journey began as a preteen. He enjoyed all sports, but cricket soon took precedence. Prior to high school, Walbrugh played and trained alongside a few players that are now contracted with a franchise team.

He was a mainstay for Western Province and excelled at school and university level cricket as well, which further solidified his reputation as he rose through the ranks.

His alma mater is Rondebosch Boys’ High School, which is also the alma mater of Proteas great Gary Kirsten and another talented young batsman, Zubayr Hamza.

“I started playing cricket at the age of 9 for Edgemead Cricket Club. I lived in the area and played soccer for the club too. I then moved to the Belleville Peninsula batting academy from the age of 11 and played with some teammates that now play professionally as well such as Kyle Verreynne and Dyllan Matthews for example.

“I then moved to Rondebosch Boys High School. I represented Western Province at all age groups as well. I then matriculated in 2014 and played for the University of the Western Cape and then later moved my club cricket to Rondebosch Cricket Club.”

Over the course of his time as a school cricketer for Rondebosch Boys High, he had multiple moments to cherish. A tremendous century when he was only 12 was astounding, but that was just the tip of the iceberg – a record partnership of almost 350 runs was a springboard for more accolades.

“There have been a couple of highlights that stand out for me: definitely my first 100 against Bishops Prep when I was 12. One memorable experience was in a U14 match. We played against Boland Landbou High School, we batted first and scored 484 in a One-Day game.

“Matthew Christensen and I put on a 348-run partnership, which is the school’s record. I scored 152 not out while Matthew, who now plays for Eastern Province, ended up with an unbeaten 213.

“The story ended up making the paper. Another fond memory for me is being selected for the South African University team after playing well at one of the university weeks. Following that, making my debut for Western Province and then also the Cobras was amazing.”

While this sequence of successes insinuates prodigious ability and potential, below the surface, it wasn’t a fully smooth road for Walbrugh.

A knee injury during his school days kept him sidelined for a lengthy period, and later on, it took plenty of effort to finally get the much-coveted entry to the provincial circuit for Western Province.

“Some of the challenges I’ve faced have been injury at quite a young age. I snapped my patella tendon at the age of 11 and was out for almost a whole season. This was just before making the U13 Province side.

“I also struggled to get into the Western Province senior team for a couple of years and had to work really hard to earn my spot in that squad.”

The 2019-20 season has been quite eventful, from familiarizing himself with the rigour of professional cricket to getting fast-tracked to the Cobras not long after. In the three games he played in the Momentum One Day Cup, he made 58 runs in 3 innings.

It might not have been the ideal of starts, but it’s the bigger picture that matters. At the same time, when debriefed on his experiences, Walbrugh asserts that adjustment and learning are both constant processes and he’s received important guidance from teammates and coaches.

“With it being my first professional season I spent a lot of time learning how it all works. I think for me one of the biggest things I’ve taken from the whole experience with the Cobras is at the highest level it isn’t skill that separates the good from the average, it’s consistency and attention to detail.

“Learning from players like Zubayr Hamza, who is successful at the highest level. They place so much importance on being consistent with their performances and believe that they have the ability to produce results for their team.”

The willpower, the relentless passion, and the strong urge to make a positive impression when presented with opportunities are all present in Walbrugh’s approach.

He has sporting role models both in cricket and outside of cricket – two of the greatest basketball players and two of the modern-day aces: Indian captain Virat Kohli and former Proteas captain AB de Villiers. Walbrugh admires Kohli’s fierce mindset and unbelievable levels of consistency across all forms of the game.

“There are a few sportsmen I look to for motivation. Guys like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are definitely two athletes that I looked up to. Just understanding how their minds operate and how hard they’ve worked to be successful inspires me.

“As for cricket role models, definitely Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. The level of fearlessness that they play the game with is something I hope to include into my game. Virat’s passion, drive and competitiveness is what makes him the best in the world and that is something I want to emulate.”

Given that the preventive measures are still in effect across the country, the game has been at a standstill since late March. However, Walbrugh trains frequently at home, with emphasis on agility and weight exercises. The break from cricket has been a good time to reflect on his early progress and improvement.

“With isolation restrictions I’ve found that I have a lot of time to spend working on my fitness and getting an idea of how hectic the franchise and provincial season can be. I’ve really placed an importance on my fitness for the coming season. At the moment my routine involves a lot of skipping, treadmill and little work in the weights room.”

Next season is set to begin in a few months, and Walbrugh is looking to consolidate his spot in the Western Province side in all three formats. He might not have been named in the finalized Cobras contract list, but more importantly, the experience in the one-day games has served as a key confidence builder.

“This coming season is a big one for me. After getting a little taste of franchise cricket I want more. From a team’s perspective, I’m aiming to win trophies with my Western Province team, such as the three-day, one-day and Africa T20 Cup competitions. From a personal perspective, I want to take my game to the next level.”

Walbrugh’s hunger to prove himself to the best of his ability is a great omen of what’s to come in the future. The Cobras are currently in the rebuilding phase, and they’ll have to back the youngsters to pull through. Overcoming challenges is now second nature for Walbrugh, and another strong start for Western Province will be even more rewarding, without a doubt.

Photo: Deryck FosterBackpagePix