Channeling David Miller: ‘Chilled’ Bjorn Fortuin applies Paarl Royals lessons to Proteas leadership

Bjorn Fortuin prefers to do his work away from the spotlight of the cameras. 

So, when Proteas coach Shukri Conrad handed the Paarl Royals stalwart the T20 captaincy for the on-going tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe in Windhoek, it was not something Fortuin had actively pursued throughout his career.

"I think I mentioned it a few days ago where I said that I didn't necessarily think leadership was something that came natural to me at the domestic level and internationally," Fortuin said. "So it's quite a privilege to have that honour and have that bestowed upon me."

Fortuin has spent the past two Betway SA20 seasons at Paarl Royals under David Miller, stepping up as stand-in captain when needed and watching, up close, how one of South Africa's most experienced finishers runs a franchise dressing room. It's that apprenticeship, more than any coaching manual, that he credits.

"All of us, we've got our own way of leading teams," he said. "I've spent quite a bit of time with David and I feel like we're sort of similar in the sense that we're quite chilled and we let guys do their own thing and take charge of their own game. There are certain aspects that I've bounced off from different players in the past."

That "chilled" description is doing real work. Miller's captaincy at Paarl has never been about micro-managing his players. It’s been about creating an environment of trust to provide, particularly for the youthful members of his squad, the freedom to trust their own games under pressure.

In an ironic twist of fate, Fortuin is guiding a similar group of inexperienced players in Namibia, namely his Royals teammates Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann.

Fortuin's own comments about wanting his players to "let their natural game flow" in Namibia is a direct extension of what he picked up watching Miller operate at Boland Park.

But like any captain, Fortuin wants to leave his own imprint too, which is why he listens attentively to the needs of his players.

"It's all about getting together as a group, understanding each other," he said. "I've been very privileged to play with this group for the last 12 or 18 months, playing a bit of A-side cricket together.

"So we've got a good understanding of each other on and off the field, which helps a lot with communication and understanding each other as cricket players and as human beings."

And like any good captain, he knows that he needs to lead from the front in terms of performance, which he’s done through a T20I career-best performance of 4/24 in the last match against Zimbabwe.

However, in typical Fortuin fashion, he humbly acknowledged that his leadership journey is still a long one.

"It's still a learning experience," the 31-year-old said. "I'm not the complete captain. I'll never claim to be the complete captain. And we'll always be learning in this game as players and as individuals."

Fortuin will lead the Proteas when they face hosts Namibia in the final group match in Windhoek on Friday before Sunday’s final at the same venue.