“Short backlift, soft hands”- Sunil Gavaskar praises Temba Bavuma for proper Test match batting

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian opener, was all praise for South Africa captain Temba Bavuma for his proper Test match batting in the second innings of the India versus South Africa first Test in Kolkata.

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Bavuma’s half-century was the difference between India winning and the ultimate loss they suffered. The wicket swung up and down, and the occasional ball turned viciously. However, with his patience, temperament, and technique, the South African skipper was able to form partnerships with the lower order and enable South Africa to score 153 runs, leaving India with 124 to win the Test.

Sunil Gavaskar, a former Indian cricketer, decoded Bavuma's technique during his important 55 not out of 136 balls.  

“Temba Bavuma showed that with his short backlift and soft hands, keeping his bat speed just slow enough so that even if the ball took the edge, it would not carry to the close-in fielder. He also showed admirable patience and great temperament, even when the ball went past the outside edge. In essence, it was proper Test match batting and not what modern batters do the moment they find it is not a flat pitch and the ball is doing something off it,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

As the Test match ended within three days, there have been plenty of questions raised about the quality of the surface.

In an interview with India Today, Gavaskar endorsed the proposal. He contrasted the 15 wickets that dropped on the second day of this match to the 17 wickets that fell during the Test match between Australia and India in Perth.

“By the way, when India toured Australia last year, 17 wickets fell on day one in Perth. In Adelaide, 11 fell on the first day and 14 on the second. In Sydney, 11 wickets fell on day one and 15 on day two. Did the has-been have any complaints or caustic comments about those pitches? Absolutely not.

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Ten wickets on day two at Leeds. In Birmingham, eight wickets fell on the second, third, and fourth days. At The Oval, 15 wickets fell on the second day, but of course, unsurprisingly, not a word of criticism about the pitches in Australia and England. Lots of wickets fall in a day in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, but nary a word of sarcasm. That is left for India and Indian pitches,” Gavaskar stated.

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