The Domestic 4-Day Series has concluded with an all-too-familiar feature – painfully few black African batsmen pushing for Test honours. The prospect of unearthing the next Temba Bavuma looks bleak, writes RYAN VREDE.

This time last year I wrote a piece highlighting the contributions of black African batsmen in the Domestic 4-Day Series of the 2020-21 season.

Khaya Zondo, at 16th, was the top-ranked black African, with 324 runs at an average of 40.50. Things have improved somewhat in the 2021-22 campaign, with the Titans’ Grant Mokoena ranked sixth, scoring 482 runs at an average touching 50.

The Warriors’ Lesiba Ngoepe scored 443 runs at an average of 36.91, ranking him eighth, while Zondo ranked 20th, scoring 368 runs at an average of 73.60 (this was aided by a 203*).

Not once in the last 11 four-day seasons have there been more than three black African batsmen in the top 20. And for six of those 11 campaigns, there’ve been zero or one in the top 20.

In a Test context, it’s hard to see either Mokoena or Ngoepe pressuring the national selectors. The former opens for the Titans. He won’t unseat Proteas skipper Dean Elgar and is likely to have to wait to see whether rookie Sarel Erwee blows his chance. It would be remiss not to note that the competition’s leading run-scorer, Pieter Malan, is an opener as well and should therefore be considered before him.

Ngoepe bats at No 3 for the Warriors. This is a position Keegan Petersen has established himself in. It is not to say that neither he nor Mokoena can’t be accommodated in different batting positions, but the Proteas selectors have been conservative in this regard.

Three batsmen in the top 20 is an improvement on last year, but looking beyond that is demoralising. There are only three black Africans between positions 21 and 50.

One of Cricket South Africa’s stated short-term goals is to grow the base of black African batsmen who are capable of making the step up to Test cricket. Bavuma is also the only black African batsman to establish himself in the Test side since isolation. He appears to be maturing into a highly competent Test batter, after a period of mediocrity.

How CSA remedies this pressing issue remains to be seen. The current strategy is clearly deeply flawed and highly ineffective.

This is not the case with black African bowlers, a clutch of whom have emerged and excelled since readmission. I’ve pondered the reasons for the disparity between the two disciplines in past pieces, as well as why it is so important that Bavuma continues to excel. 

There is so much that goes into enabling a talented black African batsman to touch the ceiling of his potential. As a start, the cost of high-quality batting gear is prohibitively expensive for most, access to adequate practice and match facilities remains an issue, and high-calibre coaching in township clubs and schools is virtually non-existent, among myriad other factors.

This issue needed CSA’s undivided attention. A special task team must be established, and their work should be solely dedicated to remedying this problem. Without this, I’ll still be lamenting the scarcity of dominant black African batsmen when Bavuma eventually retires.

Black African representation in top-20 batsmen in four-day domestic cricket over the past 11 seasons:

2021-22 – Three
Grant Mokoena ranked sixth, scoring 482 runs at an average touching 50. The Warriors’ Lesiba Ngoepe scored 443 runs at an average of 36.91, ranking him eighth, while Zondo ranked 20th, scoring 368 runs at an average of 73.60 (this was aided by a 203*).

2020-21 – One
Khaya Zondo in 16th with 324 runs at an average of 40.50

2019-20 – Zero
Highest ranked was Wandile Makwetu at 23rd.

2018-19 – Three
Sinethemba Qeshile ranked fifth with 735 runs at an average of 52.50, Grant Mokoena 16th with 524 runs at 29.11 and Sibonelo Makhanya 18th with 503 runs at 31.43.

2017-18 – One
Omphile Ramela ranked 12th with 596 at an average of 35.05.

2016-17 – Three
Khaya Zondo ranked fourth with 740 runs at an average of 67.27, Lesiba Ngoepe 15th with 503 runs at 33.53 and Aviwe Mgijima 20th with 431 runs at 28.73.

2015-16 – One
Omphile Ramela ranked ninth with 592 runs at an average of 42.28.

2014-15 – Two
Omphile Ramela ranked fifth with 724 runs at an average of 48.26 and Temba Bavuma 14th with 555 runs at 69.37.

2013-14 – Two
Temba Bavuma ranked sixth with 714 runs at 39.66 and Khaya Zondo 13th with 541 runs at 38.64.

2012-13 – One
Temba Bavuma ranked fifth with 537 runs at an average of 31.58.

2011-12 – One
Temba Bavuma ranked 11th with 637 runs at an average of 53.08.