After impressing in his Test debut, Stiaan van Zyl will be eyeing an extended run in the Proteas side, but the left-hander will probably be operating in a different role.
Following the retirement of Alviro Petersen, the Proteas will be looking for someone to open the innings with Dean Elgar, and Van Zyl believes that is a role that he can fulfil.
“When JP (Duminy) and Quinton (de Kock) come back (after injury) they will play in the position where I was playing, so the only spot in the side is the one left by Alviro retiring.
“Opening is probably the most difficult position to bat because it is a specialised position, but I think if I stick to my basics and play my game then it is a role that I can do for the team,” said Van Zyl.
During the four-day match between South Africa A and the England Lions in Paarl this week, Van Zyl opened the batting with Gihahn Cloete, which gave him more insight into the role.
“One of the things that is different with opening is that you spend a long time in the field and then you need to be ready to bat in a few minutes. Normally I would get some time to rest after I field, but as an opener you need to get into the right frame of mind from the start.”
While representing the Cape Cobras over the years, Van Zyl has on occasion opened the batting, but the 27-year-old feels that he needs to take on the role on a more regular basis for the Cape side in order to fine-tune his skills.
“Obviously I will need to have a chat with Gogi (Cobras coach Paul Adams) first, but knowing him I think he will give me the chance to open the batting for the Cobras.”
Van Zyl toured with the Proteas in Sri Lanka and made his Test debut against the West Indies, and feels that he has improved his overall game, including his mental approach to matches.
“One of the differences I noticed with playing Test cricket is that you need to be on your game all the time because you cannot lose a session. If you do at Test level it is harder to recover, whereas with four-day cricket it is a bit easier to (make up).
“That is why guys like Dale (Steyn) and AB (de Villiers) are so intense on the field because they know that you have to fight for every session and that is something I would like to bring to my game as well.”
Against the West Indies Van Zyl made his mark with a century on debut in Centurion and in the third Test at Newlands got to bowl, taking the wicket of Marlon Samuels for his maiden international scalp. He will be looking to make more of acontribution with the ball.
“I really enjoy bowling because you get to do more on the field. If you are just a batsman then you spend most of the match fielding but as a bowler you have more to do in the match. I do not see myself as a part-time bowler so I am looking to get a bit quicker and maybe become like the fourth (seam) bowler in the side.” - Cape Argus