“Want to create a legacy for myself” – Temba Bavuma after being named South Africa’s limited-overs captain

^{Temba Bauvma named South Africa’s Captain}

Temba Bavuma on Thursday was named the new South Africa ODI and T20I captain. He will lead the limited-overs sides until the 2023 World Cup. Dean Elgar was named Test captain After becoming South Africa’s limited-overs skipper, batsman Temba Bavuma said he wants to show his potential and wants to create a legacy for himself.

Bavuma has been part of South Africa’s Test team since 2014/15 but has only been a regular member of the limited-overs teams since 2019/20. But while his Test batting average is a modest 32.26 he has shone as a top-order batsman in both white-ball formats. His one-day batting average is 55.83 and his T20 average is 35.57 with an impressive strike rate of 133.15.

Temba Bavuma on being the first black African captain to lead the country

Bavuma spoke about being handed the captaincy and said, “I understand the deeply rooted significance of it all. In being the first black African (cricket) captain in our country – you don’t have to look too far in our history and our political situation in our country – so I can completely understand why people in our country would celebrate it for what it is.”

“I’d be lying if I said it does not make me think of where everything started for me, and how I’ve been able to go through a journey and get to this point. But combined with being known as the first black African captain, I’d also like to be known as someone who led the team very well and created a legacy for himself,” he added

“I was offered the position as captain and it came to me as a surprise, but it was a no-brainer. I don’t think a lot of people would turn down this type of honour and privilege,” he said.

“Obviously there’s anxiety about not knowing what to expect but a lot of comfort comes from the fact that I know my players and the people who have entrusted me with the decision, I draw a lot of confidence from that because those are people of stature,” the skipper added.

Bavuma is captain of the Lions franchise team and led his side to victory in a Twenty20 tournament which finished on Sunday.

Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023. Elgar will take over the reins into the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.”

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