Proteas opener Reeza Hendricks has an opportunity to display his skills ahead of the T20 World Cup, with Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen not selected.
The 34-year-old big-hitter is expected to open with Quinton de Kock and his place in the team looks secured. Although Hendricks has played in the last T20 and ODI World Cups, he has never been able to establish himself as a consistent performer. In the previous T20 World Cup in 2022, Reeza was in great form, having made four fifties in his last five T20I innings. However, the selectors chose to open with De Kock and Bavuma instead of him.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Hendricks played two matches before he was controversially dropped for Bavuma. The Proteas skipper was injured during the group stages and had to miss two games. Reeza scored 85 against defending champions England but was dropped two games later for out-of-form Bavuma. Although the Proteas reached the semi-finals, Bavuma’s selection ahead of Hendricks remained a talking point.
This will be the first time Reeza Hendricks will head into a T20 World Cup without being a backup. The pressure is surely on the Kimberely-born batsman now that all eyes are on him
“Normally I’m the guy who’s gone as the backup,” Reeza told Sunday Times. “It does feel different, but I’m looking forward to it, so see what it is like to potentially start. I don’t know what to make of it just yet.
Stage set for Reeza Hendricks ahead of the T20 World Cup
“The way things have gone in the last while, I’ve just taken things in my stride and whatever happens at the World Cup, starting or not starting, I’ll just take it as it comes and go out there and try to do my best.
Reeza Hendricks has impressed in T20 for years but this might be his tournament.
“I don’t know if my best years are now, or maybe back then when I wasn’t playing,” he added.
“Look at the last T20 World Cup when I was in pretty good form, I don’t know if that was my best. Maybe I’m still getting to my best, I don’t think I’ll ever really know. I feel I have a lot more to offer.”
T20I World Cup gives the Proteas another opportunity
The Proteas have always underdelivered in World Cups but have come close in last year’s 50-over format. Reeza might be playing his last T20 World Cup with two or three key players.