Photo Credit: SA20 League
MI Cape Town star Dewald Brevis believes playing in front of capacity crowds during the Betway SA20 will help settle the nerves when he walks out to make his international debut for the Proteas Men’s team next week against Australia in the first T20I at Kingsmead.
Brevis has the experience of playing in the historic Betway SA20 tournament opener last season at Newlands where he showed great maturity in not letting the sense of occasion unsettle him as he stroked an undefeated 70 for MI Cape Town.
He will be hoping to put in a similar performance for the Proteas against the Aussies.
“I think it’s (Betway SA20) obviously helped me prepare because everyone in South Africa came out in numbers,” Brevis said.
“There will always be expectations. I like that, because there is more reason to show who you are. Pressure is always there. I feel pressure, but I like it. I encourage it, and I go head-on to it. It’s how you deal with it, and enjoy the moment, and go with it, and don’t think too much about it.
“I believe there will be a lot of people at Kingsmead. It is always good to have your support from South Africans. It’s really lovely to see people out on the grass embankments. I can’t wait to see the people out there.”
Brevis opened the batting for MI Cape Town in the Betway SA20, but he has since shifted down the order. It is a move that seems to have brought out the best in the youngster as he enjoyed great success in the middle-order for MI New York in the recent Major League Cricket.
The 20-year-old prodigy is not fussed about where he bats for the Proteas as he is simply living the dream at the moment.
“It has been really amazing these last few days because a dream has come true for me,” he said.
“From a very young age, I’ve wanted to be part of this amazing set-up of the Proteas. It’s been an honour and it’s been wonderful to live my dream and spend time with the team.
“My biggest thing is always to be a person who can play all roles. I will bat/bowl wherever I have to for the team, and give my best for the team.”
Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
