How Kirsten’s pep talk put Duminy on track

South African Jean Paul Duminy, Australia's chief tormentor in the recently-concluded Test series, got his act together only after an earful from current India coach Kirsten

How Kirsten's pep talk put Duminy on track

South African Jean Paul Duminy, Australia's chief tormentor in the recently-concluded Test series, got his act together only after an earful from current India coach Kirsten

A stern reprimand by current Indian coach Gary Kirsten led to South African sensation Jean Paul Duminy mending his profligate ways and concentrating on what promises to be a starry career.

"You've got more talent in your little finger than I have in my entire body," Kirsten a former South African opening batsman, reportedly said by way of castigation to the exciting Proteas all-rounder early in his career when he was trying to emulate the rakish lifestyle of Herschelle Gibbs, his childhood hero.

Gibbs missed the recent Test series against Australia as the result of suspension for racial vilification of Pakistani fans.

Makhaya Ntini jokes with teammate Jean-Paul Duminy (left) during a training session ahead of the second Test between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad in April last year. file pic/AFP
Pressure on Oz

As the bitter rivals go into today's ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Duminy, the hero of his team's win in the Test series, feels the Australians will be under pressure not to lose a third successive limited overs series on home soil.

"I think there is a bit of pressure on us with the series tied at one-one, but I'd like to think most of the pressure is on Australia.

"It's their backyard and there is pressure on them to win," Duminy told the media yesterday, even as Australian captain Ricky Ponting revealed his side had devised a plan to cope with the elegant left-handed batsman with the silken touch.

"We've spoken a bit about how we're going to do things differently to him in the next few games. Hopefully we can execute things well against him," Ponting said.

"He's in the best form of their batters and one we'd like to do better against in the coming weeks".

Duminy, the hero of the Test, one-day and Twenty20 series, attributes his remarkable success to psychological strength.

"I probably lacked more of the mental approach to the game," he says.

Overlooked by his country's schizophrenic selectors, torn between considerations of racial balance and ability, the elegant 24-year old Cape Coloured bats left handed, bowls right-hand off-spinners and is a brilliant fielder.

His stupendous catch, running backwards, in the one-day match against Australia last Tuesday to dismiss David Hussey, was arguably the best of the season.

Inducted in the Test team as a last-minute replacement for injured vice-captain Ashwell Prince (he says he did not expect to get a look-in in the side when he arrived in Australia), Duminy grabbed the opportunity by the forelock.

The diminutive ("pocket rocket") left-hander aggregated 246 in three Tests at 61.50. He averaged 146.87 in the two Twenty 20 games and is averaging 76.80 in the current ODI series.

Bigger role

After an unbeaten half century on debut and a big hundred in the tourists' wins at Perth and Melbourne, Duminy followed up with 78 and 69 in the T-20 matches. His first Test wicket to dismiss century-maker Michael Clarke caught and bowled in a tight spell of four overs marked him as a potential all-rounder.

"He has the ability to take wickets at any time he comes on to bowl, so I think he has the potential to play a bigger role with the ball during the one-day series," his team coach Mickey Arthur says.

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