Johannesburg – Farhaan Behardien has played 72 international matches for South Africa and if social media is to be believed, that’s 71 too many. It’s safe to say Behardien is not everyone’s favourite – even among his mates.
He joked last year at the World Cup how, during AB de Villiers’ astonishing assault against the West Indies at the SCG, he’d copped abuse from friends for denying De Villiers the strike.
The criticism of Behardien is not always so light-hearted, though. Far from it. He, of course, can’t help it if he’s selected, but he’s willing to concede that he’s not made proper use of the chances – 47 ODIs and 25 T20 games – he’s been given.
“Consistency is the key for me going forward. I believe I’ve let myself down on a few occasions, but that’s part and parcel of the journey. I’ve been afforded opportunities by the selectors and I’m looking to repay the faith they have shown in me,” said Behardien.
His international statistics bear out a career that is far from fulfilled. He averages 29.93 with the bat in ODIs and has made five half-centuries.
Behardien, of course, bats in one of the most difficult positions in a one-day team. In the middle order, barring a top-order collapse, he won’t get the time to build an innings and if he’s not smashing a 35-ball 50, he’s not done his job properly.
Also, he’s rarely been there at the end or contributed significantly when South Africa have had to chase a target.
His average in the second innings of ODIs drops to 18.23, while his strike rate, 92.63 overall in ODIs, drops to 69.91 in the second innings. Two weeks shy of his 33rd birthday, time is seemingly running out for Behardien, but he believes there’s still a lot he can offer to the team, even as the selectors start casting their net wider in their search for players who may occupy the position he currently holds.
“There’s always work to do. Batting in the middle order for any international team is pretty hard work. I’ve been five, six and seven in the last year, so the pressure is always there. The key is consistency. Neil McKenzie (SA’s batting coach) has had a bit of time to work with the team … he’s got a feel of the work ethic, game plans the mindset of the middle order batters.
“There is also heavy competition … AB, Dave Miller, JP Duminy and myself and unbelievable all-rounders like Wayne Parnell and Chris Morris, so there’s heavy competition for that five, six, seven spot.”
The addition of Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo has further added to that competition and is a clear indication from the selectors that they are looking at more players for the position that Behardien occupies.
He has been grateful for the brief interaction he’s had with his new franchise coach at the Titans, Mark Boucher, who he’s tapped up for information concerning how to go about playing in the middle order.
“He’s been challenging me personally. He’s batted in the middle order for SA in nearly 300 ODIs, so I’ve had some conversations with him and hopefully those thoughts and game plans can unfold in the next month or so.”
The bowling side of his game is as important as his batting. In one sense it looks like Behardien has been under-utilised as a bowler (he’s bowled 120 overs in ODIs) but he’s keen to be given more opportunities.
“I see myself as someone in the middle (in terms of bowling) – I’m not a spinner, not a fast bowler, I offer something slightly different. AB bowled me quite a bit, just to offer something different when the seamers or one of the frontliners is going for a few too many runs.
“I see it as something to work on, I do so all the time, I can obviously improve. If I can go at four or five runs an over for four or five overs, maybe pick up a wicket and then add some batting to that, that will be a good package for a middle order player.”
Behardien sees today’s match against Ireland in Benoni as the ideal start ahead of a hectic summer that includes a five-match one-day series against world champions Australia starting next week.
“We are not taking Ireland lightly. We’ll be coming out all guns blazing to try and create some synergy before the games against Australia.
“To beat the world champions in a five-match series is no easy feat but that’s a goal for us. It will set the summer up beautifully.
“The Test side have just started a little something by getting some confidence by beating New Zealand. The onus is on the one-day squad to build on that momentum.”
– The Sunday Independent