Pirate Galaxy » cently to see how you are in yourself and in a working

When Temba Bavuma was a boy, he was asked where he thought hed be in 15 years time. He thought about it, sat down, and wrote that when he grew up he wanted to become an accountant, play cricket for South Africa and shake the presidents hand - not necessarily in that order.His chutzpah found favour because his answer was included in the pages of that years school magazine. The whole tone of it was quite cocky and arrogant, he says now.On January 5 this year Bavuma scored a century in the second Test against England, at Newlands, an achievement that trumped, by some margin, his stated three intentions as a Grade 6 pupil at SACS Junior School in Cape Town all those years ago. It was an innings widely but shallowly celebrated, partly because the significance of milestones such as these only becomes clearer with time. Partly, though, it was an event of such magnitude that it was impossible to wrap ones head around it. This year is the 25th anniversary of South Africas readmission to international cricket, and in that time no black cricketer from the country had come close to scoring a Test hundred. The previous best was Monde Zondekis cavalier 59 against England at Headingley in 2003.There are many reasons for the conspicuous lack of tonnage, some obvious, some opaque. One is the comparative withdrawal of the development programme initiated by Ali Bacher, both continued and allowed to fall into disrepair under former Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola. Another is the governments retreat from the township schools and the hand-wringing that invariably accompanies any request for their vision or money. Then there are the intangibles. What barriers, real and imagined, plague black South African batsmen? And without a culture of local batting heroes, how can doubts over spirit and history be erased and overcome?Despite its world-historical flavour, Bavumas innings also owed as much as any other to the magic weave of circumstance. When on 8, he was so pumped up after a sledge from Ben Stokes that his first fifty came in a swift swift blur of 11 fours. His second fifty was more sedate. The scoreboards shadow started to weigh him down and, when in his 80s, he was haunted by Stuart Broad, losing both composure and his normally trustworthy sense of where exactly his off stump stood.Bavuma was not feeling good after South Africas defeat in the first Test, at Kingsmead. He and Dale Steyn took an early flight out of Durban only hours after the close and his scores of 0 and 10 in the 241-run defeat were still wedged uncomfortably in his head. He sought the sanctuary of his grandmothers home in the Cape Town township of Langa, and 24 hours later, had friends around for a New Years Eve braai.For all the succour of the township, he was bothered, fearing that he might lose his place in the Test team. In the end, the selectors bravely decided to drop JP Duminy, and Bavuma kept his place, at least for another Test. Ive never admitted this, but I was feeling the pressure. I needed to repay their favour. I thought to myself that this could be the end of Temba Bavuma.Bavuma is a teetotaller and his mates celebrated the arrival of the new year in various states of intoxication. His father made it clear that he thought Bavuma should be celebrating at the South African team hotel. Every time someone brought up the subject of cricket, Bavuma padded it away. South Africa trained the following morning amid the intense, slightly irritable scrutiny that follows disappointment. The session was hectic because all the selectors were there, Bavuma says. Ashwell [Prince] and Hussein Manack were at practice and so was Graeme Smith. They were all throwing their two cents around, if I can say that.Despite the scrutiny, Bavuma managed to chat with Prince, a player he has always admired. It was less what Prince said than the tone of his words that inspired him. My confidence was sleeping until I spoke to Ashwell - it awoke something in me, he says. Ive always been able to relate to him. He told me that theyre [England] not world-class and we shouldnt stand back. That gave me confidence.If playing for his franchise, Bavuma would normally be batting by lunchtime but Test cricket requires a more careful rationing of energies. At the beginning of South Africas chase in reply to Englands 629 for 6, Bavuma slept, but when AB de Villiers was batting he watched the game on television in the dressing room. Sometimes he doesnt watch the game at all (I dont really know why) although in this case he kept an eye on matters in the middle.It was a long wait, through the third afternoon and well into the fourth morning. Only when Hashim Amla fell for an epic 201 after lunch did Bavuma walk to the crease to join Faf du Plessis The scoreboard clock showed 13:32, and little were the run-sated crowd to know as he scratched out his guard - middle and off to align his head with off-stump, allowing him to leave well - that they were about to witness one of the most important innings in the history of South African cricket.Wed decided to bat time, thats what the Test was all about, Bavuma says. When Faf went, I felt a bit of pressure, then Quinny [Quinton de Kock] walked in calmly and with a bit of arrogance. When I felt that energy, I knew I could adopt it - I kind of sucked that into my game, Bavuma says.De Kock didnt last long, and that brought Bavumas domestic team-mate Chris Morris to the middle. Bavuma had by this stage opened his account, with a four off James Anderson, cuffed dismissively on the up through extra cover. It didnt swing. I think it was probably my best shot of the day.His next scoring shot was off Stokes. With me, the horizontal-bat shots are generally instinctive, Bavuma says. When he bowled it short, I hooked the ball to the right of fine leg - it was more of a glide, really, and it went for four. Then I snicked an inside edge down to fine leg for another four, which didnt please him. You are so shit, I dont know what you are doing here, Stokes said to me after that second four. Its not the most creative chirp, is it? If hed said that earlier, it wouldnt have made a difference, but after that I just decided I was going to play because it stung a bit.Bavuma had already scored five fours within the first hour of his innings. By his own admission, he was in a bubble. The bother he felt in the days preceding the Test were beginning to fall away; Princes pep talk had given him a fillip and Stokes sledge had galvanised him.He took three consecutive fours off Steven Finn to hurtle into the 30s, and he and Morris began to settle into a productive partnership. When Finn came on I saw it as an opportunity to put someone under pressure, Bavuma says. His pace was up there but I still felt that I could score, so a pull, a drive and a backward cut later I was in a zone. When Moeen Ali came on, I almost had to restrain myself because I was in an attacking mode and just wanted to go at everything.The first week of January is still post-Christmas holiday time in South Africa. When Bavuma came to the crease on the Tuesday, millions of people around the country were lolling around their television screens, or were on holiday at the seaside or simply enjoying a day or two of quiet leisure before returning to work. As Bavuma grew in confidence, and the watching nation sensed something special was in the offing, viewing figures began to climb.His three fours off Finn had taken him to 35, and there he stood stranded as he defended five dot balls from Ali. Morris was unable to score off Finns following over but then five off a Moeen over (including a four), two singles from Finns next, and dot-dot-four-four-single off Moeen brought up Bavumas fifty, scored in 52 balls.Social media and the bush telegraph went to work. On average, 26% more people watched the days play compared to all the other days of Test cricket combined, says Kelvin Watt of Repucom, a market research agency that provides stats to CSA and other sporting federations. The other thing thats significant was that the age demographic of the viewership on the public broadcaster and SuperSport went down by about ten years - more young people were watching the cricket.Despite his admission that he became a little cautious after reaching his fifty, Bavuma scored fluently after tea. Two fours off Stokes in consecutive overs (no lip, this time) were interspersed with two overs in which he took three runs each off Ali.Although England never faded, according to Bavuma, being cajoled by Jonny Bairstow and steered by Alastair Cook, it was punishingly hot in Cape Town, and they had been in the field since Sunday afternoon. A degree of drift was inevitable.While Englands thoughts would have slid towards the likelihood of having to bat again, Bavuma and Morris made merry. An over of ten runs for Morris off Moeen was matched by another productive over for Bavuma - now on 68 - off Stokes, including a two and two singles.As viewers began to realise the possibility of Bavuma reaching his ton, the sleepiness of the late-afternoon hours began to be replaced by a different feeling, something more hopeful, with a sharper edge. It was all South Africa, as the 550 mark was passed and 600 beckoned.Around 4pm, however, Bavuma found himself increasingly stretched. He was able to pinch the odd single, but Broad - who was brought back - shuttling himself across the breadth of the crease to subtly change the angle of delivery, had his number. I was basically at his mercy, says Bavuma. He was troubling me because with the angle he was bowling, the ball was holding its line and you can be vulnerable to the outside edge. I was triggering towards him and pushing into his channel but he just kept on coming. When Alastair Cook asked him if he wanted another over during the spell and he said No, I was almost relieved. Looking at the scorebook through this period and its a field of stubble - all dots and singles, singles and dots. For just over half an hour, from 3.45 to 4.17, Bavumas innings crept painfully along, with not a boundary in sight.The slow spell was broken by six in an over off Anderson but on 77 he snicked Broad low to Bairstows right; the ball died on the keeper but hit his glove and the chance was fluffed. Buvuma knuckled down for a prolonged battle as he crept towards his hundred.Runs were now impossible to find, and Bavuma was stranded in the wilderness. None too confidently, he played out a maiden to Broad, and then five dots to Anderson. He was now on 84 and those precious 16 runs looked an awfully long way away. He scrambled here and there but for three overs he remained on 87; for four more he was stuck on 88. Then, just after 5pm, facing Moeen, the sweet relief of a boundary, his first in 48 minutes.When Morris departed, with Bavuma needing seven for his century, the thought of running out of partners crossed his mind when his franchise team-mate Kagiso Rabada walked in at 11 minutes past five.Rabada took guard and batted out the four remaining deliveries of Finns over, meaning Bavuma was on strike to Root. A dot ball was followed by a two. The third ball was safely negotiated (no run) and off the fourth, Bavuma squeezed a single to go to 96.Rabada, still on nought, batted out the over, meaning that Bavuma was on strike to Finn. At 5.19 he went to his century with a four. Minutes later Amla, in his penultimate day as the South Africa captain, declared the innings closed on 627 for 7. Few bothered to ask if South Africa had batted for too long.Bavuma has been making hundreds for six seasons now. His first first-class hundred - an unbeaten 152 - came for Gauteng against Easterns in Benoni in 2009-10, and the following season he made his debut franchise hundred, scoring 124 not out for Lions against Knights in Bloemfontein.In six seasons between 2004-05 and 2010-11, according to Andrew Samson, CSAs official statistician, only six centuries were scored by black batsmen in South African first-class cricket - two of them by Bavuma - but off that small base, things have begun to change. Three were scored in 2011-12, one the following season, three the season after, six in 2014-15, and three last season. The net of those scoring hundreds has also widened. Since 2013-14, four batsmen other than Bavuma have scored first-class hundreds, including Omphile Ramela (4), Khaya Zondo (3), Thami Tsolekile (1) and Somila Seyibokwe (1).This suggests something approaching a virtuous circle, with Bavuma at its centre. It also tells us that, like the four-minute mile, which was thought of as an almost physical barrier, the art of the four-hour hundred is best understood in mental and not physical or technical terms. In breaking the hundred barrier - in South Africas 226th Test since readmission - Bavuma has beaten a path for others to follow, something which in time will be seen to be as precious as that elusive World Cup win. Vapormax Plus Wholesale . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Nike Air Max Plus Clearance .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-china-yeezy-boost.html . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Fake Yeezy Boost For Sale . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Cheap Air Jordans From China .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras.Katherine Brunt is an old hand when it comes to major tournaments, displaying nerves of steel in the 2009 World Twenty20 final to record figures of 3-6 and help England beat New Zealand to the title. But the seamer still gets sick ahead of big events and feels no different with the latest Womens World T20 getting underway in India this week.Brunt will be a key cog for England as they aim to better their runners-up spot in the previous two editions, with the team pipped by Australia on both occasions, in Sri Lanka in 2012 and Bangladesh two years ago.Speaking to Sky Sports, the Barnsley-born bowler discussed what winning the event would mean to her, the impact of new England coach Mark Robinson and the Yin to her Yang, Anya Shrubsole…Hi Katherine. Youve been around at big events for a while now, but do you still get nervous as a world tournament approaches?Of course I do! I did wonder when that feeling would go away but it never does. Its always the same and I always feel a bit sick!How do you think you have changed as a cricketer since you made your England debut in 2004?I have had to learn different skills along the way and become physically fitter as I play all three formats - I want to have a long career so I have had to manage my back. Im still learning all the time, especially with new England coach Mark Robinson on board. England captain Charlotte Edwards is also full of praise for new head coach Mark Robinson. What has he brought to your game?He has made me feel like there is more left in the old horse yet! He is all for taking you outside of your comfort zone - thats not really what I do personally, but it has helped me realise that I need to push myself and that I can work on my failings.As a former fast bowler, has Mark had a few tips and tactics for you?Not really. He has spent a lot of time getting to know the team and also focussed on our batting style and how we are going to approach an innings. He wants us to be positive and aggressive and thats how I play my cricket, with both bat and ball. Im quite a fiery character on the pitch and like to take on shots and take on anyone who comes at me. Thats what Mark is pushing from numbers one to 11. We havent perfected that style yet - it always takes time with a new coach - but we are well on the way. Katherine could be crucial for England with the bat, too Can you reassure us that the back injury that disrupted your recent tour of South Africa has cleared up?Yes, I feel great. I had a long winter season abroad and technically no time off since thee end of the English county season to stop and collect myself physically and mentally.dddddddddddd I got to a point where I needed that break before the World T20 so, while it was disappointing to cut my South Africa trip short, my back is now in the best shape its been in for a while. Im definitely ready to go.You seem confident and your team must be, too, after reaching the last two World T20 finals?We dont like being runners-up, thats for sure! I think there are at least four teams, possibly six, competing at the same level so its not dead-set for anyone. Its anyones game and will be about who handles the pressure best. Watch England Women in action in the ICC Womens World T20 A key for England could be the way you and Anya Shrubsole perform with the ball up front. Why do you think you work so well as a partnership?Mainly because one of us swings it in and the other swings it away. We feel like we can keep a left-right batting combination on their toes - I feel I have a great off-cutter and she has a great leg-cutter, so we are Yin and Yang. If one of us is getting through dot balls, the other is taking wickets. In world cricket, I think we are right up there in partnerships.Are you also Yin and Yang as people?Its quite funny actually. We have been doing these tests recently to see how you are in yourself and in a working environment and how you can work with your team-mates better - and Anya and I are on completely different ends of the scale in terms of personality. Everything I do annoys her and everything she does annoys me, so its bizarre we work so well together. I guess, though, that you become a different person on the pitch - I know I certainly do. Anya Shrubsole - Katherines bowling partner and personality opposite! Youve been in India for a few days now. Have you managed to get out and about?Not just yet. Weve been quite happy to stay in one place as a team and really train and rest well. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the touristy things when you want to win so I guess well save that for after the tournament has finished. We want to stay focussed.What would it mean to you to win the World T20?Its why I play. World Cups are the pinnacle of our game and why I train so hard. You always get a certain feeling when you come to these events as all the teams are giving it everything, we play alongside the men and the media coverage is ramped up. Its brilliant - I love the pressure, I love the hype and it brings out the best in me.Watch England Womens World T20 opener against Bangladesh from 9.30am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. ' ' '