ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 22, 2021

Temba Bavuma

Sheikh Zayed Stadium

South Africa

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Temba, you managed two out of two warmup victories. Are you confident with the squad that you currently have that you can progress through to the playoff stages being put in a tough pool, taking into consideration you guys missed out on Faf, clearly the guys performing a T20 competition back at home with (indiscernible) and the last person was -- I forgot. Just give us your comment, please.

TEMBA BAVUMA: That was a long question. Yeah, I am confident. The squad that we have here, it is a squad that we've been playing together for quite a while for the last couple of months. It's a squad that we built. We tried to cover all our bases, in terms of fast bowling, in terms of spin, as well as the batters.

I think over the last outing with the positive results we've been able to get, that has helped our confidence and given us confidence in the guys who are here.

Q. Hi, Temba. Just want to check in on the fitness. How are you doing, and how is Shamsi doing?

TEMBA BAVUMA: On my side, the fitness is good. I obviously managed to get through the two games unscathed. The handheld up nicely, so I'm all good to go.

Shamsi as well, I understand that he's also good to go. He did pass his fitness test today. So he's good. I'm good as well.

Q. Good to hear that you're fit. I was wondering in the two warmup games, you spent quite a bit of time in the middle, but the strike rate was probably not where you would have wanted it. Was that just a bit of match fitness lacking after your injury, or is that sort of like part of the game plan for you to rotate the strike and just try and stay in as long as possible?

TEMBA BAVUMA: I think from my side, not having played cricket for quite a while, that probably contributed to that. I think it was also adjusting to the conditions and I guess trying to formulate a game plan that was also part of that. Yeah, I think probably being out of the game for quite a while, that was probably the main contributor.

Q. Hello, Temba. Good to hear that you're well. My question is centered around the fact that South Africa itself is a very demanding country. South Africa is incredibly hard to please, case in point with the recent performances that you've had as well as the team, they still warrant some form of criticism from the country. So my question is mentally where is everyone mentally at the moment? Where is the team mentally in that? How have the boys been prepared mentally to deal with the daily pressures that will come from home in this tournament?

TEMBA BAVUMA: Yeah, we understand that our fans, our media are quite unforgiving. I think there's a high demand for excellence at all times, and we understand that as professionals we'll be judged according to that standard. We know that coming into the World Cup.

But in saying that, there are certain things that we can control, and that's what we do on the field. Everything else we try and keep away from the team and try to focus as much energy inwards and on each other. So that's something that we've done over the last while.

I think, as a team, as individuals, we've come under heavy attack from the media, from the fans, over the last couple of whiles. So I don't think it will be anything different, to be honest. We'll keep as we've been doing, keep staying together as a team, as a family, and keep focusing on our cricket.

Q. With regards to the team balance, are you guys sort of looking at maybe playing three spinners or longer batting lineup on Saturday? What is the thinking around that?

TEMBA BAVUMA: We've considered both actually. We haven't finalized it as yet, or the selectors haven't finalized as yet. Obviously, looking at the squad, if we do decide to go the slower bowlers route, we do have those guys at our disposal. If we do decide to go with an extra bowler, extra batter, we do have that.

From what I understand, the selectors are still deciding on that.

Q. My question is that there's been quite a lot of chat about the heat in the UAE, and given South Africa has day game tomorrow, how do you prepare for the heat? Has the team acclimated well?

TEMBA BAVUMA: Yeah, I think the team has acclimatized quite well. We've had good sessions and good training days in the morning to get our bodies used to the heat.

I don't know what else we can do, to be honest. It is hot, it is humid this side of the world, but I guess we accepted that. Yeah, I think we're as prepared as we can.

Q. In regards to it's been a long buildup and it's finally here, are the guys excited for tomorrow? Also, just playing against Australia, that's always -- it's a way to start the tournament for South Africa. How do the boys feel? Are they definitely up for facing the Aussies?

TEMBA BAVUMA: I must be honest, there is a bit of anxiety amongst the guys, there is a bit of butterflies, and I think that's something that's expected. In terms of coming up against Australia, there's no motivation, no bigger motivation for the guys. Matches or clashes against Australia have always been full of fire, and we don't expect it to be anything different tomorrow.

Tomorrow being an opener for us, it's obviously a big game. We want to start off well. We want to hit the ground off running and start to get that momentum rolling in our favor. But the guys, I believe, are in a good space.

Q. With regards to just mentally starting well in tournaments, how important is that for you as a group and as a captain to make sure from a mental point of view the team starts well from the front and does well in the first game?

TEMBA BAVUMA: It's always good to start off well. You want to throw that first punch in early on and try to ride with that momentum as much as you can. I think the way the tournament is also set up with only five games in the group stages, you don't really have time to be behind the eight ball.

We'll be looking to really hit the ground running. Tomorrow play our best cricket and take it from there.

Q. Australia lost two series away to Bangladesh and West Indies. Do you expect them to come into this match under more pressure than you as the South African team?

TEMBA BAVUMA: I think both teams are under pressure, to be honest. What has happened in the past, you've got to put behind that. Yes, there's learnings that you can take from it, but I think a competitive side, a powerful side like Australia, I don't think would allow those type of performances to deter them going forward.

So we won't be undermining them looking at their past results. We know what type of team that they are, and it will be important for us that we bring our A game.

Q. Just on Australia, what do you feel can be taken on in terms of the team, and where do you think they will be strong, where you guys need to be at your best?

TEMBA BAVUMA: Obviously, their bowling attack is quite strong. I think having played them in the past, their type of team they look to strike up front, really try to get into that middle order. So I think from our point of view with the bat, we want to make sure we play there powerful as well as we can so we don't allow them to kind of get into our middle order with their slow bowlers.

With the bat, I think they're quite top heavy. Guys like Finch, guys like Warner, Smith at the top. So we're also obviously looking to strike up front and put their middle batters under pressure. The earlier we can get those guys in, I feel the more we can put them under pressure.

But I think their side they've got good resources, fast bowling, slow bowling, as well as from a batting point of view. So I think it will be a good encounter.