CAPE TOWN - Only the mirror often speaks the ugly truth and JP Duminy knows the time has come for him to take greater responsibility in South Africa’s One-Day International middle-order.
A senior member of the Proteas batting unit Duminy has not enjoyed the best of ODI summers.
It started on all the right notes in the 5-0 whitewash of Australia with two swashbuckling innings of 85 and 73 but that impressive form has tailed off since in the longer version of limited-overs cricket.
Considering Duminy has arguably enjoyed one of his best periods in Test cricket for a long while too with big centuries against Australia (141) at the Waca and Sri Lanka (155) at the Wanderers to his credit, it has been even more frustrating to watch Duminy’s struggles in 50-overs.
He still seems to be hitting the ball sweetly – like he did during his brilliant cameo of 29 off only 16 balls in the Auckland T20 – but yet it hasn’t translated into anything significant in ODI’s of late.
There is a case to be made that captain AB de Villiers’ return to the Proteas ODI side has disrupted Duminy’s flow as he has been forced to shift back to the No 5 position in the Proteas line-up.
This was particularly significant during the Sri Lankan innings when Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis – South Africa’s powerful top three – feasted on a Sri Lankan attack which left limited opportunities for the batsmen lower down the order.
Equally, after years of being shunted around the batting order across formats, it was transparent during the course of this summer that when Duminy walks out at No 4 he regularly produces his best for the Proteas. Both Test centuries were made in that position.
The Proteas management seemed to realise that at Hagley Park and pushed Duminy up the order in Christchurch.
Again Duminy looked accomplished in the No 4 position, stroking an elegant 34 with a couple of neatly-timed lofted drives over extra cover, but like the rest of his teammates failed to bat for an extended period of time to seal the game for the Proteas.
"As a batting unit we understood nobody in that top-six took responsibility. That's the disappointing part of the result. Especially myself, getting in and not taking it home for the team. That's something we pride ourselves on," Duminy said in Wellington on Friday.
With the series squared-up after Christchurch, there’s no doubt the intensity across the three remaining matches will be lifted with New Zealand now filled with confidence.
Their seam bowling unit led by Trent Boult and Tim Southee is particularly impressive and will look to keep the pressure on South Africa’s top order which could provide Duminy with opportunities to make his mark on the series.
The classy left-hander is working hard on being ready for when that moment presents itself.
“I’m feeling pretty comfortable with where my game is at,” Duminy said. “It’s possibly purely about putting in those performances when those opportunities arise.
“If I look back at the last game I probably had the opportunity to bat the longest period of time. Unfortunately I didn’t capitalise on it. Hopefully I can take responsibility next time around.”