JP Duminy is expected to return to the Proteas side for the first time since the loss to India on 5 June. DANIEL GALLAN reports.
On Thursday, Duminy addressed the media ahead of South Africa’s penultimate World Cup clash with Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street.
Duminy, who announced that he would be stepping down from ODI cricket after the World Cup, cast a dejected figure as he fronted up to difficult questions. One of them concerned criticisms from former players.
‘I think a big part of it is that past players still feel a part of the team and they feel the pain, and want to see guys putting in big performances,’ Duminy said.
‘But when you have agendas, that is something that is out of our control. It’s difficult for us to have a say over that because we don’t understand the agenda, where it comes from, what’s the meaning behind it and that is why it’s important for us to keep it outside of the bubble as best as possible.’
If Duminy plays against Sri Lanka and against Australia in Manchester next week, he will end his ODI career with 199 caps. He currently has an average of 36.97 with just four hundreds to his name. These are numbers that belie his natural talent but accurately a reflect a frustrating career that promised more than it delivered.
Now, with little more than pride to play for, he has an opportunity to close the book with a couple of stellar performances.
‘There is no doubt I want to put in a big performance for the team, for the public, for the fans that have supported us through thick and thin. But for me, legacy lies in when people look back and think of you and they’ve the opportunity to interact with you. Legacy is not in performance. Legacy is the person you are. It’s about being a good person.’
