Temba Bavuma raises issue of double standards in transformation discussion after match-winning display

Coming in at No.3, Bavuma and new captain Quinton de Kock put together a second-wicket stand worth 173 runs as South Africa eased to victory at Newlands

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South Africa batsman Temba Bavuma hopes that his match-winning performance in the first ODI against England will quieten his doubters and change the conversation around his place in the national side.

Coming in at No.3 after the early loss of Reeza Hendricks, he and new captain Quinton de Kock put together a second-wicket stand worth 173 runs as the Proteas eased to victory at Newlands.

It was just Bavuma’s third appearance in the format; he holds a fledgling average of 86.33, with his 98 on Tuesday adding to a century on debut against Ireland.

He had been left out for the first three games of South Africa’s Test series defeat against Joe Root’s side, before returning for the final instalment at Johannesburg last month.

There were some suggestions at the time that Bavuma’s recall had come about in part to help Cricket South Africa to remain compliant with their transformation policy.

The 29-year-old, however, rejected those claims, saying: “It has been hard. It's not so much the dropping part; all players get dropped, everyone goes through slumps of not scoring well.

^{Bavuma and Quinton de Kock put on a match-winning display}

“The awkwardness and discomfort from my side is when you are thrown into talks of transformation. Yes, I am black, that's my skin. But I play cricket because I love it.

“I'd like to think the reason I am in the team is because of performances I have put forward in my franchise side, and also for the national team, whenever I have been able to.”

The diminutive middle-order batsman’s Test return followed a second innings 180 in a first-class match for the Lions franchise in mid-January, having initially been injured at the start of the four-match series.

“The one thing that irks me is when you are seen through the eyes of transformation,” he added. “When you do well, transformation is not spoken about but when you do badly, transformation is thrown at the top of the agenda. I have a serious problem with that.

“We've got to be able to take the good with the bad. If transformation is bad when black African players are not doing well, then when we are doing well, let's also recognise transformation for what it's done.

“I don’t think I have nailed my spot in the side. This was just my third game and I am just happy to be on the field.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen after this series or next week. It’s just to enjoy the little moments I have.”