Temba Bavuma

thumb|Temba Bavuma Temba Bavuma (born 17 May 1990) is a South African cricketer who has played for the national team since 2014. A right-handed batter, he has scored 3,810 runs at an average of 38.10 in Test matches, and 1,987 runs averaging 42.40 in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In 2016, Bavuma became the first black African cricketer to score a Test century for South Africa, and scored a century on his ODI debut later that same year. Quotes It was tough integrating within the system, learning and understanding the [white] culture but it helped that I came in as a cricketer. In terms of making friends, it was a bit easier. But I had to learn about discipline and etiquette, which are such big things in that culture. I also had to learn confidence. Can you imagine taking a child from the township into a system where, basically, everything is there. There were always doubts. Am I good enough to be here? Do I deserve this opportunity? I always felt the need to prove myself. You see things but it’s very hard for you to comprehend – even if the disparity is quite obvious. It would really hit me when SACS played against Langa. At that time Langa was strong in cricket and I would be playing against my friends that I grew up with in the township. I would be a SACS boy who’d been there two years. By then you know how to conduct yourself at lunch. You’re not going to dish up a big plate whereas my friends from Langa would have huge plates By the time I went to St David’s I was one of the boys. I understood the whole culture and I was fluent and confident in English and my studies. But it took time. The added responsibility as well, getting pushed up the order, is something I thrived on. But most of all I just understand my game and I don’t try playing like anyone else. We can’t compete from an economic point of view. The only way we can compete is on the field The biggest thing with our guys is not to burden them with anything and keep encouraging them to have confidence in the way we’ve been doing things People keep pushing those levels of expectations and you’ve got to find a way to get mentally stronger. But I’m doing that and I’m still enjoying the game. My memories are not good from the team’s perspective as Moeen Ali bowled us out in the second innings I was locked in the bathroom sulking’: Temba Bavuma on his path from township to WTC final, June 2025,the Guardian, by Donald MCRae External links Category:Cricketers from South Africa Category:Living people Category:1990 births