Interviews
AMLA PUTS HIS ARM AROUND STRUGGLING BREVIS
Hashim Amla knows all about the expectation around being a young promising batter.
Amla was, of course, a former SA U19 captain coming through the ranks with many prophesying that it would only be a matter of time before he would progress to a long and successful career.
But Amla too found the step up to the next level challenging initially. Questions abounded about his technique and temperament to succeed.
Ultimately, with the support of those closest to him, Amla found his own way and matured into one of South Africa’s greatest batters across all formats.
The value of Amla being part of the MI Cape Town coaching staff in the Betway SA20 therefore cannot be underestimated.
Amla works with South Africa’s most promising young batting talent Dewald Brevis on a daily basis.
But like many prodigies, Brevis (20) is discovering that the second season often provides different challenges now that the bowlers have done their analysis and are beginning to zone in on potential weaknesses.
Season 2 has certainly been a struggle for Brevis with the talented right-hander managing just two double figure scores across six matches.
But Amla, having been through a similar period in his career, knows that all Brevis needs right now is unconditional support along with an uncomplicated message.
“Brevie is a very talented youngster and has had success in the other leagues like the MLC (Major League Cricket),” Amla said after MI Cape Town’s 36-run defeat to Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands.
“The message to him is very clear: Assess the situation, get yourself in …
On the back of advice from Hashim Amla, his batting coach at MI Cape Town, Dewald Brevis played a measured innings against Durban's Super Giants before losing his wicket while trying to 'go through the gears'.
“He’s a very powerful youngster who can hit sixes and take the game forward. But there wasn’t enough partnerships to set the game up in this manner.
“He has struggled to get runs in the last couple of games. He looked more promising today, getting himself in. We back him because he’s a very exciting cricketer.”
Brevis looked to take on the advice at Newlands on Tuesday evening with 21 off 19 balls at a strike-rate of 110.52 - much slower than his usual career strike-rate of 139.41.
But just when he was about to pull the trigger, he skied one to deep mid-wicket, which was comfortably caught by Junior Dala off the bowling of Australian Marcus Stoinis.
Unfortunately for MI Cape Town, who slipped to their fourth defeat of the competition, is not only the youngster that has been searching for runs.
The experienced middle-order have not been able to alleviate the pressure on Brevis and were found wanting again when they managed just 121/9 in response to DSG’s 157/6.
“It wasn’t a really big score and the wicket played decently,” Amla said. “We just did not find any rhythm with the bat and did not build any partnerships.”
