He provided a timely reminder of his red-ball credentials with a Test summer looming
“We don’t usually get such seamer-friendly conditions at this venue,” Sipamla, who moved from Warriors to Lions two seasons ago, told ESPNcricinfo. “The pitch gave us a lot. It wasn’t drastic movement and we just had to be very consistent with where we put the ball.”
“It’s tough with the national set up with KG (Kagiso Rabada), Anna (Anrich Nortje) and Lungi (Ngidi) all fit,” ” Sipamla said. “Last year, I got the opportunity because there was an injury (Rabada was recovering from a groin strain) and I took it with both hands, played well. Then, the senior players came back and just made things tough. I was part of the Test series with Pakistan as well but couldn’t get game time because its’ tough competition. But I am still in the system and am focusing on the Lions.”
“I am the youngest among the four so I am learning a lot,” Sipamla said. “My move to the Lions was to try and get as much exposure to senior players as I can. I am trying to be a sponge and it’s helping me a lot.”
His new-ball partner, Olivier, has instilled in Sipamla an appreciation for the present moment. “He has taught me about mental toughness and also aggression. He focuses on the now and the task at hand. Opening the bowling with him has allowed me to be calmer, and just see what’s necessary at that moment in time,” he said, while Magala helps Sipamla find his fight. “He is also another aggressive type of bowler. He is fit, he is strong and he adds a lot of value in terms of seniority.”
Although Sipamla does not have specific boxes to tick to catch the national selectors’ eyes again, he is working on, “trying to keep things a lot tighter and to have more control on where I place the ball,” he said. “And working on the mental side of the game.” He recognises that the “Proteas are on the up,”and is happy to bide his time until he is reconsidered. That may be sooner than he expects, though. South Africa have a heavy Test load over the coming months with the India series, a tour to New Zealand and matches against Bangladesh in the home summer before a tour to England in August.
In other results:
Division One:
Division Two:
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent