'He’s a different cricketer' - Shaun Pollock backs Temba Bavuma to shine for Capitals 

New Pretoria Capitals recruit Temba Bavuma says it's “quite cool” to be calling Centurion home in Betway SA20 Season 5.

The Proteas Test and ODI captain was the last pick in the Season 5 Player Auction when Capitals assistant coach Shaun Pollock raised his paddle to pick up the experienced top-order batter for his base price.

Bavuma has not featured in South Africa’s premier T20 competition since Season 2, when he played for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, helping drive the Gqeberha-based team to two titles.

But the 36-year-old is now hoping to help the Capitals go all the way after two runner-up finishes in four seasons.

“Yeah, that's quite cool,” Bavuma said of his Capitals signing. “I was looking forward to my January break. But yeah, it's cool to be back in the mix with the guys.

“Not too far from home, Pretoria, led by Keshav [Maharaj] over there. So yeah, I look forward to being a part of that team. Yeah, hopefully we'll be able to go all the way this year, next year.”

Pollock was particularly excited to acquire someone of Bavuma’s calibre and experience to guide what essentially remains a youthful Capitals squad.

“Temba, an international cricketer who's going to be playing against the best in the world for the next few months, going to come off a one-day series against England, has been part of two winning SA20 campaigns, and the international experience he brings, I mean, is wonderful,” Pollock said.

“We love to get young guys in and give them opportunities. But the standard of cricket is very high. And you can never underestimate the value of someone who's played international cricket against the best bowlers in the world and what they're capable of.”

Pollock also feels that Bavuma’s game has developed during the intervening period and that he is now better suited to the demands of T20 cricket.

“I think Temba’s game has changed. I think he's a different cricketer than he was 18 months ago,” the former Proteas captain said.

“I think he has a very common understanding about how he goes about his business. And to have him from a leadership perspective, just in the background, you know, depending on how much he plays, we'll have to wait and see. But just to have him part of the set-up, I think will be fantastic.”

League Commissioner Graeme Smith was equally thrilled to have the national captain participating in Betway SA20 again.

“Temba has probably been the most consistent player in one-day and Test matches for South Africa over the last two years,” Smith said.

“I think he knows his game really well now. And probably at a time when he was thinking about not playing much of a role in T20, being brave enough to put his name in the auction, credit to him.

“I think getting picked up by Dada [Sourav Ganguly] and Polly, I think it's going to be wonderful to have him a part of the tournament again.

“And I hope that he has a cracking tournament and plays well and puts to bed all the T20 stuff that's built up over the years and plays the way that he's played in other formats. So, yeah, it's going to be great to have the national captain as part of SA20.”