JOHANNESBURG – Vaughn van Jaarsveld is in the kind of form that usually pricks the conscience of the suits who monitor these matters for the teams that are on the next level.
Since January, the powerful left-hander has batted like a man on a mission, greedily feasting on attacks whenever he gets the chance.
They are selfless runs, too, gathered at a pace that puts his team in the ascendancy.
In a sense, since being elevated to the top of the order, he has batted something akin to a Matthew Hayden – barrel-chested, strong-wristed, and with an unflinching resolve to get on top of the bowling.
“It’s just down to hard work,” he explained, when asked what he was putting in his morning oats.
There are no secret recipes, no private sessions and certainly no fresh missions, though he has been given fresh seeds of perspective from a knowledgeable source.
“Being given the role of opening has definitely been a good challenge for me. I thrive on the extra responsibility, and Imraan Khan
(assistant coach) has been brilliant.
“He has played over 100 first-class games, played a Test for South Africa, so he must have done something right. I think he has brought a new dimension and energy as an assistant coach,” Van Jaarsveld enthused.
‘Tuffers’, as Khan is known around the team, has spent many hours talking to Van Jaarsveld about his destructive role atop the batting card, and having Morne van Wyk at the other end has also been very handy.
“Tuffers encouraged me to play proper cricket shots and, when the opportunity is there, and put the bad balls away. It’s not like I have been given licence to do whatever, but the management has backed me at the top.”
He has rewarded that show of faith with a terrific return, especially of late. His last six scores make for wonderful reading; 54, 71, 8, 59, 85, and the latest, 108 off just 77 balls against the Lions in midweek.
That kind of form eventually catches the eye of selectors, and Van Jaarsveld may yet add to his five international appearances, if he maintains these standards.
“All I have been trying to do for the last seven, eight years is to try and do my best to help the Dolphins win trophies. But, obviously, consistency does lead to other things, and that would be nice.”
In the form he currently holds, the savage southpaw could prove to be the Dolphins’ trumpcard in the next fortnight, with his searing century against the Lions on Wednesday putting them a win away from a home final in the Momentum One Day Cup.
“To be honest, the guys are just taking it a game at a time. ‘Morgs’ (coach Grant Morgan) has been reminding us to do just that, and he is such a positive influence in the dressing-room. Whether we are playing home or away, we are still very positive.”
What’s more, Morgan and his troops insist that they are yet to play the perfect game just yet, despite being perched comfortably at the top of the standings.
“Morgs has challenged us to play our perfect game. We haven’t been 100% as a team yet, and hopefully that is still around the corner,” Van Jaarsveld deadpanned.
It is a tantalising prospect for a team that has tasted rock bottom this term, suffering from a swathe of injuries, but now finds itself poised, and with a full pack of performers at the ready.
“Andile (Phehlukwayo) and Imran (Tahir) have come back, and already shown what they can do. But, as a team, we have been putting our hands up all season, so there is a good feeling in the camp,” van Jaarsveld nattered.
This is the business end of the season and the 50-over competition, and the Dolphins are finishing as strong as ever. They started the tournament by holding their nerve and outlasting the Titans in a thriller. On Sunday, they will look to do the double on the men in blue, and start making plans for a final on home soil.
It is so close that Van Jaarsveld and company can almost taste it, though they dare not touch the money.
One game at a time.