Johannesburg – Stiaan van Zyl is sitting with his Western Province amateur teammates in the viewing area of the home dressing room at Newlands.
The atmosphere is quite laid-back with most of the players on their mobile phones updating their various social media platforms, while others are teasing about some off-field activities.
It is a far cry from the environment Van Zyl will walk into when he joins up with the Proteas Test squad for his expected international debut against the West Indies at Centurion next week.
“For sure … the noise will be a lot louder. The TV cameras, you guys (the media), obviously more spectators in the ground. It is a Test match, and Test matches are a big deal,” Van Zyl said.
“Also, if I get to play, the West Indies are a Test team, with quality bowlers, so your concentration has to be spot on. I am grateful for the match practice here, but it will be a step up. However, it remains only a cricket game and the basics apply. The key is to shut out all the outside noise and concentrate on that red piece of leather coming to you from 22 yards. It has helped that I have already toured with the guys to get a feel of the dressing room.”
Van Zyl travelled with the Proteas during the winter to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for the first time after a succession of ‘A’ tours to Australia and the subcontinent. He had to be content with only quenching his teammates’ thirst in Galle, Colombo and Harare without getting a look-in, despite the retirement of Proteas pillars Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis in the last 12 months.
Considering the 27-year-old had arguably been the most consistent run-scorer in South African first-class cricket for the past five seasons, reaching a crescendo last season when he topped the national run-scorers’ list with 933 runs at 58.10, the doubters were beginning to question whether the most elegant of left-handers would play to his potential when they first saw the baby-faced 20-year-old caressing the ball through the covers seven years ago.
“I have always believed in having patience and good things come to those who wait. I knew I had to keep knocking on the door and put myself in the position to be first in line when an opportunity arose. The only way I could do that was to keep scoring runs, and big runs for the Cobras. Perhaps if I didn’t get picked after last season with Graeme and Kallis retiring, I would have felt despondent,” Van Zyl explained.
“But then I went with the Proteas in the winter and realised how close I actually am. Hope- fully, if I get an opportunity with JP (Duminy) injured, I can make a contribution. I saw how Piedtie (Dane Piedt) came in and took his chance. Without putting too much pressure on myself, I can make a similar impact.”
Van Zyl’s fellow Kenridge Primary School mate Piedt, who was Man of the Match in his debut Test, will not be at SuperSport Park to share the emotional high point of his career when he receives the cap for the first time, as the off-spinner has been ruled out of the Test with a shoulder injury. However, Van Zyl will have another close friend to share the moment with him, and, in fact, could even receive his cap from Proteas opening bowler Vernon Philander.
Arguably one of the most unlikely friendships, with Van Zyl a soft-spoken Afrikaans kid from Boland Landbou who addresses older men as “Oom” (Uncle), and Philander, the brash and confident senior player who hails from Ravensmead on the Cape Flats.
But for all their outward differences, the pair share a special bond cultivated over many years at the Cobras and will come to fruition at the Proteas.
“Vern … he is like my older brother. Many people don’t understand it, but we really share something special. Since the moment I came into the Cobras team as a young boy, Vernon has taken me under his wing. You could say he kind of protected me from the big bullies (laughs).
“He always told me, you just score the bloody runs and I will take care of the rest. Make sure you bat the whole day, so I can put my feet up. I was quite scared of him initially, so I just batted and batted. It kind of helped me get those big hundreds early on (laughs again). But he’s got a lot of respect for me and me for him. The big thing he told me when he became part of the Proteas team was that he was now waiting for me and he wanted me to join him quickly.”
Philander won’t be out to protect “Laggies” (Van Zy’ls nickname) from the likes Jermaine Lawson, Sheldon Cottrel, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder out in the middle next week but he may not need to because this young man is ready for Test cricket. In fact, he has been for a long time already.