Andile Phehlukwayo has taken his promotion to the Proteas’ limited-overs squads for the forthcoming series against Ireland and Australia in the same way as he has reacted to everything in his fledgling career: calmly and with a ‘humble heart’.
The 20-year-old arrived home on Tuesday night after a long, exhausting flight from Australia where he played for South Africa A in a quadrangular tournament. Tired he may have been, but the news that he is on the verge of international cricket had clearly invigorated him.
Phehlukwayo revealed that he was sitting having coffee with a friend in Australia on Monday morning when he received a call from the convener of the national selectors, Linda Zondi.
“I didn’t know what the call was about, and I have to say that I was initially shocked by the news,” the former Glenwood High School pupil said. “It was something I didn’t expect, not at this stage, but I’m really happy. I’m still on a learning curve with my cricket, but I’m so excited.”
Any danger of a big head? ”No, definitely not,” Phehlukwayo laughed.
“I don’t think that’s something that’s in my personality and I don’t want it to ever be. I just want to keep my head down, stay humble and keep on working hard with the rest of the guys.”
The all-rounder, who made a big impression with the ball in limited-overs cricket for the Dolphins last season, particularly with his ‘death’ bowling, said he felt he had also made some progress with his batting in Australia.
It was only two years ago that Phehlukwayo was a schoolboy, captaining the Glenwood first team. Since then he’s played for the Dolphins, been part of the South Africa Under-19 World Cup-winning squad and more recently South Africa A. Has he found his super-fast progress unnerving?
“I definitely feel that I’m capable of playing at international level,” he replied calmly. “I think I’ve shown glimpses of what I can do at franchise level and now at South Africa A level. So I don’t think the level is too high, or represents something that I can’t do.
“I’ve built up quite a lot of self-confidence in the last couple of years, and I’ve had good coaches around me,” he said, describing former Dolphins coach Lance Klusener as one of his valued mentors.
Asked if there was any one person he wanted to thank, Phehlukwayo thought for a moment before replying: “I think it would be unfair to name any particular person. What I would like to do is to thank everyone who’s been a part of my cricketing career to date.”
The youngster added that he was particularly happy for his mother. He grew up in a single-parent household with his mother and sister in Port Shepstone on the KZN South Coast.
“I’m really stoked for my mom. Most of the things that I do are for her because she has done so much for me.”
The Star