When Kagiso Rabada handed Kwena Maphaka his maiden ODI cap last summer, he reiterated the Proteas team ethos – “to those before us and those to come” – in a speech that passed down a long-standing tradition.
That painted a vivid picture of what it means to play for the country and what is expected of a Proteas player.
Six months later, Maphaka, 19, is about to take on the biggest responsibility of his young career: leading the South African pace attack for the first time in Test cricket in the absence of the rested Rabada and the other senior quicks.
To his advantage, the heroics of Lord’s remain a fresh memory. Rabada’s nine-wicket haul, along with the 11 other Australian wickets shared amongst the bowlers, offers a perfect template of what a Proteas bowling performance should look like.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Maphaka said that the Proteas’ efforts in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s inspired him to raise his game in the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe, which starts at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo tomorrow.
“The World Test Championship final was an absolute spectacle. One of the key conversations going into the match was South Africa’s pace attack versus Australia’s pace attack,” said Maphaka.
“The likes of KG, Lungi, Marco and Wiaan really showed what it means to be a great pace attack, and they put South Africa’s fast bowlers back on the map.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the fast bowlers coming out of South Africa – and really good ones at that – so seeing that was really special.
@officialcricketsa A special moment, for a special player!✨ Kwena Maphaka was presented his ODI cap by fellow domestic and international teammate and Proteas icon, KG Rabada this morning🧢🇿🇦 A moment to remember forever!😃 #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvPAK ♬ original sound – Cricket South Africa
“It’s given me inspiration to raise my game and be the newcomer rising through the ranks.
“Hopefully, I can emulate what they’ve done.
“Hopefully, we reach another World Test Championship final, and I could be the one doing the job for the Proteas.”
Maphaka was also among the fans at OR Tambo International Airport during the Proteas’ homecoming last week – an experience he described as “weird”, finding himself back in the shoes of the fan he used to be.
“I was at the airport for the Proteas homecoming after they won the World Test Championship final, and it was really cool being in and amongst the fans – being a bit of a fan myself,” he said.
“It’s a pretty weird situation to be in because I’ve been a fan of these guys for so long. I watched them on TV, and then I got to play with them.
“It took me back to my 14- or 15-year-old self, just being a fan again and soaking in the moment with the rest of the people there.”
Maphaka will lead the attack in the first Test before Lungi Ngidi joins the squad for the second. The left-armer, who made his Test debut in January at Newlands, plans to settle quickly in Bulawayo.
“The first – and currently only – time I played Test cricket was in January on debut. That New Year’s Test was really special,” said Maphaka.
“I started shakily, but I found my feet as the game went on.
“Going into this Zimbabwe Test tour, I just want to make sure I find my feet early and perform at my best.”
