SURELY the three years that all-rounder George Linde spent out of the Proteas team, with very few viable reasons, were tough to deal with.
As Pieter Malan said on his Test debut almost five years ago, “International cricket is a privilege. Pressure is fighting for your career in empty stadiums in domestic cricket”, it must have also been tough for Linde to wait his turn as the country seemed to have completely moved on from him.
In a post-match press conference following South Africa’s 11-run victory over Pakistan in Durban on Tuesday night, one could easily feel Linde’s pain as he struggled in his attempt to describe how he has been able to hold onto his desire to play international cricket again.
“I did struggle for a year or two. But ja, it was.. it was one of those things,” said Linde.
“Luckily I had a nice long break away from cricket in the winter, for like six months – just to get away from the game. I do think that helped me a lot, because it brought that fire again.
“I’ve always had the hopes of coming back to the Proteas, but if it wasn’t the case, then it wasn’t the case.
“I did give myself the best shot, in training in pre-season, in gym work and everything to train and come back. If it didn’t happen, so be it, I’m still proud of my career.”
After 1 235 days of waiting for an opportunity, Linde’s heart must have skipped a beat when he walked out of the hotel in Durban on Tuesday, only to see the team bus already making its way to Kingsmead for the first of three T20Is against Pakistan.
“For some reason, my phone was 15 minutes behind. So, I thought to myself, ‘Okay, at four o’clock, I’m going to walk down, I’m going to get on the bus nice and early’.
“And then, as I got out, there’s the bus leaving. That feeling was not great,” Linde told the media after the match.
“Luckily there was a police escort, and they took me to the bus. Actually, no one realised I was not on the bus, which was quite cool because they thought I was on the bus. It was embarrassing.”
That was the last bit of panic Linde had on his return to international cricket as he went on to dominate Pakistan with a match-winning performance, including a 24-ball 48 with the bat and 4/21 with ball in hand as he drove South Africa to an 11-run victory.
It was one hell of a statement to make on his return, one that cleared any doubts that would have been there when he was called up.
“I’ve been through a tough time, but the last year has been really good. I feel like I do deserve this opportunity,” he said.
“I’ve been playing good cricket this whole season. I felt I did not have to prove anything to anyone. I know how hard I worked for this opportunity to come.”
South Africa bowled 23 extras in Durban, including eight wides and two no-balls – a feat that Linde believes the team will fix in tomorrow’s second T20I in Centurion (6pm start).
“We gave a couple of soft wides. I’m pretty sure we’ll a chat about it,” he said.
“We had a chat about it in the 16th over, and we did say we need to get better at closing off overs. So, I’m pretty sure the boys will come back next game.”
The series will wrap up at the Wanderers in Johannesburg with the third and final T20I on Saturday.