Brevis looks at Namibia tri-series as a great opportunity

One of the exciting prospects in South Africa’s squad for the upcoming landmark tri-series against Zimbabwe and Namibia is Dewald Brevis. 

The young batting sensation believes a chance to play at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, one of the 12 venues at next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, offers a ‘great opportunity’ to the Proteas.

“I'm very excited. The ground looks beautiful,” Brevis told reporters ahead of the T20I tri-series starting August 28. 

“Obviously there will always be challenges and conditions, to which you adapt fast, and you make sure when it’s a flat wicket, when the conditions are great, that we perform on that.

“And when it’s tougher, we find a way to also be positive and make it work. It’s exciting, and it's always nice to say if the conditions are tough and you raise your hand as a team and you come on top, it's just a great opportunity.”

Namibia are bracing to host the Men’s Cricket World Cup for a first time, having successfully staged the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year. 

While South Africa have unveiled a young squad for the upcoming tri-series, Brevis emphasized the fact that the group is looking to make the most of the opportunity.    

“I see it as a contest for sure. Obviously, it's younger players, but everyone is very talented and deserves to be here. 

“It's an opportunity to represent your country and make your country proud. So, we all are fresh and ready to play.”

Brevis, who has featured in 30 T20Is for South Africa, has a century and a half-century to his name. 

Right from an impressive Under-19 Cricket World Cup campaign in 2022 to the recent Men’s T20 World Cup, the right-handed batter has brought his own unique signature to a strong group of Proteas batters with his fabled no-look shot.

Brevis believes the stroke represents his style of play, and is something that he worked on all by himself.

“No one has ever encouraged me to play that and it’s something that has come from a very young age,” he shared.

“That's just how I play. It just happens. It's been on in the moment, when the ball is there, these things happen. 

“So, yeah, it's quite cool, I love watching how it looks afterwards, but it's a feeling you get out there when the nice contact with the ball and then your head is just for some reason now, and you just now.

“You don't have to look up because you just know it's flying. I know the backing I have. Wow, I should play um, and then it's just. You can have all the backing, but it starts then with yourself. Do you commit to that and not have a bit of doubt?

“Maybe you just have to fly your way, and it's with everyone in this team. Everyone is being back, and they must express themselves.”

Also, a part of the South Africa squad is Duan Jansen, who received his maiden call-up for the upcoming tour.

Having seen the meteoric rise of his twin brother from close quarters, Duan - a left-arm pacer himself - opened up on how Marco Jansen's development impacted his own journey to the Proteas dressing room.

"When his career started, it was a bit difficult because obviously the media and people all around asked a lot of questions," Duan shared. 

"I think from four or five years ago, two years into his Proteas journey, it all changed for me, mentally. 

"I had to take my own route. It changed how I approach training, how I see his games, I ask him a lot of questions post-games, pre-games.

"I think if anyone else is in that position, they'll see it as a positive because you can get a glimpse of how they’re training in the Proteas setup.

"How your mindset should be in this environment. Travelling and all that stuff. That's how I set my mindset, and since that point, once I’d done that, I reaped a lot of rewards, and then obviously our relationship got better and stronger.

"I think that's a right thing to have, especially in one of your family members. So, once that happened, I just reaped the rewards."

South Africa will take on Namibia in the tri-series opener on August 28. The two teams will also play in a three-match ODI series afterwards.

Tri-series schedule

28 August: Namibia v South Africa, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

29 August: South Africa v Zimbabwe, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

31 August: Namibia v Zimbabwe, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

1 September: Zimbabwe v South Africa, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

3 September: Namibia v Zimbabwe, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

4 September: Namibia v South Africa, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

6 September: Final TBC vs TBC, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

Namibia v South Africa ODI series schedule

9 September: 1st ODI, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

11 September: 2nd ODI, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

13 September: 3rd ODI, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek