ARMED WITH WISDOM FROM ‘DADA’ GANGULY AND HASH: ESTERHUIZEN READY TO STEP UP FOR PROTEAS

Pretoria Capitals batter Connor Esterhuizen is hoping to use some of the lessons learnt from batting legends such as Sourav Ganguly and Hashim Amla on his maiden Proteas tour to New Zealand.

Esterhuizen, 24, has been part of both MI Cape Town and Capitals’ squads during Betway SA20, having started as a Rookie at Newlands to maturing into one of the competition’s Rising Stars at Centurion.

In both set-ups, the talented batter has had access to great batting minds such as former Proteas great Amla at Newlands and Indian legend Ganguly at Centurion.

“I've learned a great deal in both camps,” Esterhuizen, who recently received his first Proteas T20I call-up, told Betway SA20 from New Zealand.

“I think maybe I was a tad younger at MI, hadn't played as much cricket as maybe when I got to the Capitals. So, I learned a lot from Robbie P, Hash, [former New Zealand left-arm quick] Mitch McClenaghan, the whole MI coaching staff, as well as their established players. So, that was sort of a nice sounding board to be able to learn from those kinds of guys.

“Then at the Capitals,  ‘Dada’ (Ganguly) was amazing. I mean, I think he had moments of both, where he would kind of sit back and watch and just observe and then other times where he was very hands-on, looking to help players out any way that he could. 

“But specifically, to the younger guys, to myself, Bryce (Parsons), Meeka-eel Prince, he was really hands-on and in helping us trying to move our game forward. He was amazing.”

Esterhuizen has played quite contrasting roles at MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals. The former used him primarily in the middle-order, where he was tasked with finishing games, while at the Capitals, Esterhuizen was promoted to the top of the order.

On the numbers alone, it seems Esterhuizen had more success in the middle, where he averaged 34.50 at a strike-rate of 133.98, in comparison to 15.09 at 105.73 at the top.

Where does Esterhuizen feel most comfortable, and where would he like to stride out for the Proteas?

“I'm just very excited to get going. I mean, as I think everyone knows, it's every kid's dream that grows up playing cricket in South Africa to represent their country. So, it's going to be an emotional one when that happens, but very happy to be here. 

“On where I actually want to bat, that's a good question. I get asked that question quite a lot. I've always prided myself in being able to bat anywhere that the team needs or anywhere that I need to be plugged in. I try to be versatile where I can have both sets of skills. 

“Batting at the top in T20 cricket, it's nice. You get to play shots in the Powerplay. You've got a lot of freedom. But with that comes pressure to get your team off to a great start. 

“Batting in the middle for MI, sometimes I came in with a platform and got to express myself. Other times, I needed to get down and do the hard work. So to answer your question, I'm not too sure where I want to bat or where I'd like to bat in T20 cricket at the moment. I'm still trying to figure that out, to be honest.”