Reeza Hendricks hopes to make a long overdue impact at a World Cup when the 2024 T20 tournament takes place in June.
Hendricks went into the previous T20 World Cup, in Australia in 2022, in the form of his life, having made four fifties in his last five T20I innings. However, he spent the entire tournament on the bench as the struggling Temba Bavuma, as captain, continued to play.
Ironically, Hendricks would be named CSA Men’s T20 International Player of the Year at the end of that season.
At last year’s ODI World Cup in India, Hendricks made just two appearances for the Proteas, both when Bavuma was ill, scoring 85 against England. While skipper Bavuma again struggled with the bat, he kept his place with Hendricks carrying the drinks again.
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However with Bavuma not being selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, Hendricks appears set to be a regular starter for the Proteas at last.
“Normally I’m the guy who’s gone as the backup,” the 35-year-old told the Sunday Times. “It does feel different, but I’m looking forward to it, so see what it is like to potentially start. I don’t know what to make of it just yet.
“The way things have gone in the last while, I’ve just taken things in my stride and whatever happens at the World Cup, starting or not starting, I’ll just take it as it comes and go out there and try to do my best.
“I don’t know if my best years are now, or maybe back then when I wasn’t playing,” he added. “Look at the last T20 World Cup when I was in pretty good form, I don’t know if that was my best. Maybe I’m still getting to my best, I don’t think I’ll ever really know. I feel I have a lot more to offer.”
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
