Proteas Bavuma

Temba Bavuma during the third Test. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

Summer of success: Proteas RATINGS – Bavuma and Ngidi

In a continued series, we dish out ratings to the leading Proteas players who had frontline roles in the series against India.

Proteas Bavuma

Temba Bavuma during the third Test. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

It’s been a summer of great success for the Proteas, who claimed a 2-1 Test series win against India before backing that up with an ODI whitewash over the visiting team who arrived on South African shores as the out-and-out favourites.

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IN PART TWO OF THIS NEW SERIES, WE DISH OUT RATINGS TO PROTEAS DUO TEMBA BAVUMA AND LUNGI NGIDI

*Note: these ratings take into consideration the player performances from both the Test and ODI series

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Temba Bavuma (9)

The summer series against India emphatically felt like a career-defining period for the 31-year-old.

Prior to the Indian tour, Bavuma called upon senior players – including himself – to take on extra responsibility when it came to producing performances to be proud of.

He put these words into practice with a memorable Test series in which he recorded scores of 35*, 51, 23*, 28 and 32*. Again it’s clear that he had to regularly manage batting with the lower order, but his consistency in often challenging batting conditions was a joy to behold.

As the captain of the ODI side, he continued that form with a sensational 110 in the first mach in Paarl, while he added 38 in the second ODI.

Bavuma has looked more comfortable than ever at the crease, while his leadership has been exemplary considering everything going on behind the scenes. He is undoubtedly one of the Proteas’ most integral squad members.

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Lungi Ngidi (7)

There was a lot to like about Ngidi’s performances against India. The powerful fast bowler started the Test series with sensational figures of 6/71, while he took three key wickets in each second innings of the next two Tests.

He often looked to be in some of the best bowling rhythm of his career, and boasted a so-called “golden arm” when it came to breaking open the game at key stages.

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Ngidi featured in all three ODIs, with an economy never worse than 6.40, while he picked up five wickets in the series.

All in all, the 25-year-old may not have stolen many headlines, but the big man should be proud of the impact he made.

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