Back in Proteas, Brevis savours dream of playing Australia after silencing the noise
The flow of runs ensured his return to the Proteas and he made his Test debut in Zimbabwe in June, lashing a 41-ball half-century, then playing in the T20 tri-series with New Zealand.
On the eve of his departure with the Proteas to Australia for six white-ball internationals, the 22-year-old said his slump occurred when he started to listen to too many advisers.
'The biggest change over the past year has been that I now know who I trust with my game and I've gone back to being the original Dewald Brevis,' he said.
'I was blessed with a talent and my natural self is who I want to be. That went away a bit because I tried to be too clever and I listened to so many different people. My only focus now is playing with a smile.
'It's very special to be back in the Proteas squad. When you first play, that environment is so amazing, but then when you go out of it, it feels like you've been removed from the inner circle and it's very tough.

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The Citizen
41 minutes ago
- The Citizen
With senior stars returning, Proteas are ‘raring to go' against Aussies
South Africa will face Australia in the first of three T20 Internationals in Darwin on Sunday. After taking an under-strength squad to Zimbabwe last month, head coach Shukri Conrad says he is pleased to have some senior players returning to the Proteas team for his second tour in charge as national white-ball mentor. With a handful of players having been rested after the SA team's victory in the World Test Championship final in June, the majority of them (those who are fit and injury-free) will be back for the three-match T20 International series against Australia starting in Darwin on Sunday. 'It's great having the experience back, obviously with Aiden's (Proteas T20 captain Aiden Markram) leadership and the leadership roles that someone like Kagiso (Rabada) plays,' Conrad said. 'So I'm really excited about the next couple of weeks. We know it's going to be a great challenge but the guys are raring to go.' Building up to World Cup Having replaced former limited overs coach Rob Walter earlier this year, Conrad said he was trying to juggle various goals with one eye on the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka early next year. While he had given younger players a chance to impress in the T20 tri-series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe last month, Conrad said the series in Australia (and other upcoming campaigns against strong opposition) would give him a better idea of squad selection ahead of the global showpiece. 'For me it's really about developing, winning, and then potentially getting to what our best squad is for the conditions in India,' Conrad said. 'So I think these tours have great value for me as a new head coach and for the coaching staff, and obviously for the players.'


Mail & Guardian
17 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
The Proteas' legendary fire reignited
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This resulted in the India Champions refusing to compete against the Pakistan Champions in both the group stage and the semifinal, which allowed Pakistan to reach the finals. The cricketer who was the focal point of the tournament was surely De Villiers. AB is one of the most beloved cricketers of all time and is considered one of South Africa's greatest. His ability to dominate the bowlers with elegant and inventive shots is nothing short of cricketing genius. Despite his prodigious skill, AB had never won a tournament with the Proteas. He has been at the centre of many heartaches for South Africa — none more significant than the loss of the 2015 ODI World Cup. Memories of Grant Elliott hitting Dale Steyn for a six to win the game for New Zealand are etched into the minds of so many South Africans. The image of the Proteas crying on the field after the heartbreaking loss in the semifinal will never be forgotten — least of all by those players. This loss continued the legacy of South Africans performing well — until the end of a tournament. Following a two-decade boycott by international cricket, in the 1992 World Cup, the rain-rule prevented South Africa from advancing to the finals. Seven years later, in the 1999 World Cup, the Proteas needed to score one run off the last three balls of the innings when a miscommunication led to Alan Donald being run out, tying the game and allowing Australia to reach the finals due to their superior run rate. There were six players from the 2015 squad who were also part of the WCL team: De Villiers, Aaron Phangiso, Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, Jean-Paul Duminy and Wayne Parnell. The players experienced the devastating loss firsthand. Cricketing fans love to watch the sport as a narrative. The contests tend to create stories which fans can become enthralled with. Stories of underdogs overcoming all the odds and the rivalries between different players and teams can create moments that are irresistible to them. The WCL has provided a narrative of redemption for those six players from the 2015 World Cup. They have seemingly atoned for their errors and were rewarded with the WCL trophy and the recognition that comes with such a prize. AB's performance in the WCL is nothing short of remarkable. He was the number one run scorer of the season, accumulating 429 runs at a strike rate of 220 and an average of 143. He was so far ahead of every other player in the tournament that he outscored the tournament's second and third-best run scorers combined. These statistics boggle the mind. Batters past their active playing days simply do not play like this. While they can still play well, AB was head and shoulders above the competition. He appeared Bradmanesque; so far beyond the opposition that comparison seems farcical. De Villiers managed to show the world why he is considered a legend even at his age. He demonstrated his brilliance, whether nailing a driver through the covers or getting down on one knee to slog-sweep the bowler for a massive six. He manipulated the field and dominated the bowlers to such an extent that he only lost his wicket in half his matches. This victory came on the heels of that of the Proteas, who finally overcame their curse of being chokers in their World Test Championship victory. That game has finally rid them of the moniker that has weighed on each player to represent South Africa in tournaments. Did that victory affect the performance of the South Africa Champions during the tournament? Perhaps. Or perhaps they just managed to use some of the spark from their prime playing days to reinvigorate themselves and perform to the best of their current abilities. During the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup, the players used the term 'Protea fire' to show their passion for the team and fighting to win the trophy. This term has continued to be used over the years, but the momentum it carried before South Africa's exit in the semifinals had diminished it. The victory might not fully heal the pain that was experienced in 2015, but it has certainly helped to restore some of the Protea fire that was extinguished a decade ago. Craig Thrupp is philosophy PhD graduate and educator who is passionate about sport and the spirit of the game.


The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘A new slate': Proteas look ahead after Test victory celebrations
The first of three T20 Internationals between South Africa and Australia will be played in Darwin on Sunday. Having had sufficient time to celebrate their triumphant performance, Aiden Markram says the Proteas must now put their victory in the World Test Championship final behind them as they gear up for a three-match T20 International series against Australia. The SA team defeated Australia by five wickets to secure the global title in the five-day format in London in June. And while the national squad toured Zimbabwe last month, a handful of key players were rested. Having travelled Down Under with a stronger squad, Proteas T20 captain Markram said they were now looking ahead to the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year. 'Exciting journey' lies ahead 'It was obviously a special time for all of us, that Test match, so we have good memories to keep in the bank, but it's been a while now,' the skipper said on Friday. 'Some of us have come off some good rest at home, and obviously now it's a different format, a different venue, and kind of a different opposition as well in terms of the makeup of their T20 squad. 'So it's a completely new slate for us now, building up to the World Cup in Feb next year, and it's an exciting journey to start off.' Unfamiliar conditions in Darwin Markram admitted the Proteas were unsure about the conditions ahead of the first T20 match against Australia on Sunday, with the national team never having played at Marrara Stadium. It will be the first T20 International to be contested in Darwin, and the first international match to be played at the ground since Australia hosted Bangladesh in an ODI at the venue in September 2008. 'We don't have too much data to work with because it's been quite a long time since a game has been played here, so we don't want to look too much into it. We'll take it in our stride on game day,' Markram said. 'We'll try get a feel closer to the time. It's still two days out so it's a bit early to make a call, but we'll have a look again tomorrow and hopefully try start building a picture.'