IOL exclusive - JP on World Twenty20

JP Duminy during the 2016 One Day International Series training session for South Africa at St George`s Park, Port Elizabeth on 5 February 2016 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

JP Duminy during the 2016 One Day International Series training session for South Africa at St George`s Park, Port Elizabeth on 5 February 2016 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

Published Feb 11, 2016

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With a man of the series as part of South Africa’s T20 series triumph in India last year, JP Duminy will be a key part of the Proteas World T20 set-up in the same country next month. Duminy tells IOL he’s looking forward to the event and is hoping to be given extra responsibility because he thrives under pressure.

Question: You’ve played 67 matches in the Indian Premier League, how important will that kind of experience be for the World T20?

Answer: “It plays its part. The thing about India is that conditions vary from place to place. If you think of Mumbai – there’s more bounce. It depends on where you play and the conditions you face. IPL does contribute to helping you gain experience for those different conditions.

Q: In India last year, you were the outstanding performer, with a match-winning contributions with the bat in both matches, does that still provide you with confidence?

A: It will contribute. But there are five games (two against England and three against Australia) before the tournament and those matches are important, not just for me but for us as a team going into the tournament. So hopefully we can do well in those five matches going into the event.

Q: With over 1500 runs to your name in T20 Internationals, you’re South Africa’s biggest run-scorer and the fourth highest worldwide, what makes you such a successful T20 batter and what’s your attitude towards batting in this format?

A: Firstly, it helps that I’ve played more games than the others (laughs). I’ve had some decent success in this format. It’s helped that I’ve understood my role in the positions I’ve batted. I’ve batted between four and six in this team and tried to contribute the best way possible according to that role. In the last series I batted at no.4 and I really enjoyed that. Batting at no.4 will allow me to make some influential performances. If I go according to what happened in the last series then I’d like to think I’ll continue in the no.4 spot. But we are a flexible team, so whatever the team requires; if I have to move down or up the order then I’ve got to adjust to that, and give myself the best chance of performing.

Q: How would you describe your role with the ball?

A: That will depend on the combinations we pick for each match. So it will be about the opposition we are facing and the conditions in which we play. I’m definitely willing and want to contribute with the ball. Of late I haven’t had a lot of opportunities or bowled as well as I could have. However that doesn’t take away from the fact that I can still contribute, so hopefully when the opportunities do arise, I stand up with the ball and make it count.

Q: Having not bowled as well as you’ve liked recently, what improvements are you trying to make in that department?

A: It’s about going back to what has worked for me, that’s the place I’m at now. I have to be more consistent with regards to the areas in which I land the ball, especially in the Test format, but going into one-day cricket it’s important I understand what my role is when I’m given the ball and trying to contribute to the team. It’s as a simple as that. I haven’t had a lot of success with the ball, but there’s a lot of one-day cricket – two ODIs and five T20s in the next few weeks – so if the opportunities arise I hope I can contribute.

Q: Faf du Plessis the captain has talked a lot about the senior players stepping up if South Africa’s is to be successful at the World T20, as the country’s most capped T20 International player, how do you feel about taking on extra responsibility?

A: That’s only way to improve as a cricketer is to be given that responsibility and trying to perform under that pressure. Wherever you find yourself in this format there is pressure, bowlers are trying to get you out, batsmen are coming at you as a bowler. If you can find a way of performing under that pressure on a consistent basis, that gives you the best chance of winning.

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