FEATURE: RUBIN HERMANN - "MY WHOLE CAREER I HAD TO FIGHT FOR OPPORTUNITIES"

New Proteas T20I cap Rubin Hermann vividly recalls the “Mini Olympics” he shared with his younger brothers Jordan and Devon in their countless backyard battles. 

It forged a tight bond between the brothers, which fuelled their competitive spirit, all built around their love of cricket. 

“We had massive garden cricket battles, man. We’re actually three brothers, we've got a middle brother as well, who was a very good bowler in his own respect,” said Rubin, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Monday. 

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“And yeah, he bowled countless overs to me and Jordan, Jordan bowled to me, I bowled to Jordan and just the garden cricket games most of the time ended up in tears and fights, because we're so competitive. 

“But it's always good, it's good competitive nature. So, we compete hard, but there's a lot of love involved.”

Rubin, the eldest at 28, and Jordan, 23, were the ones that, of course, pursued cricket professionally, although via vastly contrasting routes. After playing together outside of the confines of the garden for the first time at University of Pretoria (Tuks) where they once shared a 116-run opening partnership, the brothers went their separate ways. 

Jordan moved down to the Eastern Cape, where he immediately set the world alight with strong performances for the Warriors that led to a Wildcard call-up to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape before the inaugural Betway SA20 season. 

In contrast, Rubin had to plough through the minefields of the Mpumalanga Rhinos in Cricket South Africa’s Division 2 before moving all the way across the Highveld to North West Dragons in Potchefstroom in search of top-flight cricket.

He was though still miles away from Betway SA20, having to be content with watching Jordan strike a maiden T20 century at the hallowed Newlands from the stands. 

“I think our journeys are just so different, to be honest. I think the way he broke into the system, when I broke into the system, was obviously two different pathways,” Rubin said.

“So, I've got a very big respect for how his path worked. It was just two different worlds, if you compare it directly. And to be fair to him, he's one of the more mentally strong cricketers that I know,” Rubin said.

“He just understood his game at a very young age very, very well. And that just laid a platform for him to come to the scene and do very well. And then, regardless of the system, and how it worked, and the opportunities that he was offered, compared to maybe when I was at his age, he rocked up to the system, just lit the world on fire.

“He did so well. So, that obviously did inspire me so much, obviously, watching the first two seasons of SA20, being in the box, being in the grandstand, thinking, yes, I really want to be there.”

Rubin’s determination though saw him work tirelessly with Neil Levenson, initially at the Rhinos and then at the Dragons, in trying to formulate a gameplan that would suit his attacking style. 

The hard work was starting to reap fruition when Rubin soared to the top of the CSA T20 Challenge run-scorers list, which earned him a crack at Betway SA20 with Paarl Royals in Season 3. 

Now it was all about grabbing the opportunity, and Rubin certainly did as he swept his way to half-century on debut against the two-times champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

“My whole career, I've always had to fight for opportunities, and when opportunities come, I've always been relentless in taking opportunities,” he said.

“Obviously, I missed the first two games, so I just said, this is just another part of my career. I've done this a million times. I just have to wait for an opportunity. I will be ready. That was the only thing I kept telling myself for the first two games.

“I just said, I will be ready when I get an opportunity, because I've done this my whole career. It's just another jump, or just another step, if it makes sense. 

“There's nothing different. So, I don't know. It's just an unrelenting desire for me to do well and take opportunities when I get them, because I've had very few of them. I've always had to fight for every opportunity that I got.”

Having experienced Betway SA20 from the stands, and now being in the centre of it all, was a dream come true for Rubin.

“I get chills when I think about it, actually. I was sitting here thinking about the stadiums. It's an unbelievable experience. 

“Obviously, something you work towards your whole life is to play in front of people. That's just every cricketer's dream, to play in front of packed stadiums. The way that SA20 has got people to the grandstand, the vibes were unbelievable.

"Like I said, the first time, I didn't feel pressure on the bat at once. I just enjoyed it so much. It was just a vibe. It was fun. Just standing there, watching people chant the Paarl Royals chant.

“Even when you play the Joburg Super Kings, those irritating whistles go off. It's this deafening noise. But it's just so cool how the crowd gets kept behind every single team.”

With the new adventure of international cricket on the horizon, Rubin feels his learnings from playing alongside legends such as Proteas’ David Miller and England’s Joe Root during SA20 will equip him for what lies ahead.

Rubin Hermann is full of praise for the influence of Joe Root and David Miller on him at Paarl Royals.

“One of the biggest things I also learned from them, obviously legends of the game in their own respect, but the way that they just stay human as well. 

“Obviously can have serious cricket chats with them and have deep chats as they're always willing to have a chat and so on. But just to see that they're humans. They're approachable. They're good guys, if it makes sense. 

“I learned a lot more of the mental side of the game, just being able to perform at that level and stay with my feet firmly on the ground.

“I think those two are like a serious testament to that statement. And then obviously for them, like Joe, he just backs you so much. 

“I can remember my debut game. He just said, ‘Boss, you got this!’

“And he gave me a fist bump. And then they just empower you to be the best version of yourself.”