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India v SA, 4th Test, Delhi, 4th day December 6, 2015 Bavuma - small man with a big heartFIRDOSE MOONDA IN NEW DELHI 20 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter By stonewalling an accomplished attack on a tricky surface, with the team having their backs to the wall, Bavuma has not only shown he has the character of a Test opener, but also earned the right to be in the starting XI when England come calling 3K shares

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This was the toughest batting of my life - Bavuma

For a small man, Temba Bavuma has had some big expectations thrust on him. The biggest, in fact.

At his franchise team, the Lions, he is nicknamed Sachin. You can probably figure out why. Bavuma stands a shave under 5'3"; Tendulkar is 5'4". When the two actually met in late October, that inch appeared as tiny as it really is and as massive as the 196 Tests and 15,786 runs that separate them.

Whether Bavuma will even come close to narrowing that gap seems too much to contemplate right now but his domestic team-mates will tell you that he has the temperament to try. He dished up a small sample of that in this match where, opening the batting for the first time, he showed the head and the heart, if not always the technique, to do the job.

Bavuma's performance stood out because of the backdrop it has come against. While most of his team-mates have looked completely out of their depth on this tour, Bavuma has managed to hold his own. He accepted the challenge of batting out of position - Bavuma is a regular No.5 - but would only get the chance to slot in there for South Africa if AB de Villiers has another child, as was the case in Bangladesh - and also adjusted his game to suit the circumstance of the second innings.

In the first dig, Bavuma could still bat like he usually does. He had to be cautious but could still look for runs and his signature shot - the elegant flick off the hip - that had many praising his panache. Against bowling that cramped him for room and fielders who closed down all the angles, he eventually scored only 22, but it was a relatively assured knock. It was also more than anyone else except de Villiers.

But the instructions in the second innings were entirely different: stone-wall like you are Russia at the United Nations Security Council, do not run, do not try to run, do not look for runs, just dead-bat everything and don't get out. For a player whose role is very seldom about that kind of staunch defence, Bavuma had to apply himself in a way he had not done before.

"That was the toughest piece of batting I've had to do in my life. I always try to be positive but with the runs not being the priority, time was the key and that was tough for me," said Bavuma. "The toughest part is when I have to against my natural instinct, which is to score runs. Here, the main thing is time. It's not the runs and batting time is quite tough."

The first shot Bavuma played was that leg side clip for a single before he remembered it was not necessary to rotate strike. For the next 17 deliveries, he left the ball go outside the off stump or blocked. His next run came almost by accident, when he got on the back foot to defend one that leapt up on him and it took off form high on the bat to leave enough time and room to amble one. Hashim Amla allowed Bavuma through then, but wouldn't as the inning progressed.

Bavuma awareness of the offstump, especially against the seamers upfront, was sound but not as sternly examined as it may have been because they did not force him into playing. Ishant Sharma seemed more interested in using Bavuma as a dartboard as he tried to the attack the body. On every occasion, Bavuma managed to get out of the way. It was only when Ishant pitched it further up and brought it closer in that Bavuma had to tighten up, even though there were times when he did not get behind the line of the ball as much as he should have.

Against the spinners, Bavuma needed to be even more aware of that. He routinely exposed his off stump while staying back in the crease and R Ashwin snuck through. But the other aspects of Bavuma's response to spin - the coming forward when its tossed up and attention to watching for the turn - were signs of someone who is well-versed in playing slower-bowling and the bells and whistles that come with it, including the verbals.

In frustration, the Indian fielders even tried to intimidate Bavuma out but was able to shut that out too. "They make quite a lot of noise. They are known for their theatre. They are always trying to get you to play out of character," he said.

What Bavuma showed was that he has got the character of a Test opener, even though that is not what he was just four days ago. He has given South Africa an option they did not previously have and he has let them know it. "I've certainly been taken out of my comfort zone. I have been asked to fulfill a job that is very hard fulfilling but hopefully I can just grow here on."

As a result, he has earned the right to keep the spot for the upcoming series against England where the expectations will be big but the man himself, has now become a little bigger.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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JOWDIE ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 8:39 GMT

I'd like to see a good old fashioned fast-bowling team for the the Eng home tour, with the batsmen taking some more responsibility and NOT relying on the more modern idea that tail-enders need to contribute. They should also get over the whole Kallis all-rounder attitude/conundrum. It'd be great to

see Bavuma rewarded for his attitude and shear doggedness- let's give him a solid try. As for QDK, it's obvious he needs to be in the side and is a much better batting option than Vilas. Also, faith needs to be kept in Tahir as he is the only real world class option for SA in the spin dept. He's been treated rather poorly and given little faith- he succeeds in the ODI format, he CAN do it in tests- he just needs confidence from his team. Finally, Abbott must be taken seriously. SA side to face ENG: 1. Elgar 2. Bavuma 3. Amla 4. AB 5. Faf 6. QDK 7. Rabada 8. Abbott 9. Steyn 10. Morkel 11. Tahir.

WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 7:50 GMT

One thing I know for sure is that Duminy must go. After more than 32 tests, he now averages less than 33. That is shocking.

TOMMYTUCKERSAFFA ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 5:45 GMT

SA selectors will not pick Stephen Cook so realistically I would like to see Bavuma given a decent run as an opener to see if it works. Management might revert back to Van Zyl for the England series because he is unlikely to face spin early. If that is the case then Duminy should be finally dropped and Bavuma gets his spot.

WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 4:53 GMT

LOL, look around the school system, there are no 6'7 black fast bowlers. This is the best Morkel has bowled for some time and you want to drop him.

ALEXK400 ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 3:58 GMT

SA has core. Amla and Devillers and some extent Duplesis. Bowling Steyn and Abbot and rabada. its time to replace morkel with abbout. SA need bowlers who put 200% effort and need to terrorize batsman. Line and length is no use. You need to show batsman will be punished if he moves forward with surprise lifters. Morkel problem is his long hand telegraph where he bowls. So 100% of time batsman guess line and now its matter of guess length only. SA need to find bowlers with quick hand action. I am not fan of plhilander either , he does well in SA but they should not pick him overseas. SA need to bring more Black bowlers. Because they are better physically fit with good bone structure to with stand rigors of fast bowling. Can't SA find Tall 6' 7"+ black player who can bowl fast?. They are there. It is just that system is corrupt in every country. Every admistrators in every country try to mooch off players. We need independent scouting system to find players and train liek baseball.

WATERFALLFAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2015, 3:54 GMT

@t20cric Stephen Cook, been around the provincial scene for many years. Good, consistent performer.

ALEXK400 ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 22:05 GMT

I really dump morkel. Only reason i keep him in team because soemtime he provides contrast with other bowlers. Most time he bowl like journeyman collecting pay cheque. it seems like someone has to keep poking him and make angry to play with 200% effort. Without steyn they relied on morkel. He did not

deliver. That said SA lost because of its batting not because of bowling. I still think abbot should play instead of morkel. If you are top bowler you should get 5 wicket per inning once in 10 inning. his 1-2 wickets do not help SA that much. Bavuma should be given chance because he is better awkward elgar.

THECRICKETEER ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 21:40 GMT

Theres plenty space for Bavuma in the middle order. Duminy has been persisted with for so long on the basis of his potential as an all rounder. Well, if this wasn't the tour for him to bowl a whole bunch then there never will be. So he needs to go get better at provincial level. Don't make Bavuma open. Not fair on him or right for the team.

The team are gna need a classic and experienced opener for the England challenge. I don't think they can look past Stephen Cook.

Elgar, Cook, Amla, AB, Faf, Bavuma, Qdk. Bowlers depend on who is fit. but we have options in that area.

BROKENSAINT ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 20:16 GMT

bavuma show application and I do feel he should get another shout at it. van zyl looked out of his depth as a opener....Faf du plessis as well. he is no test no 3......

T20CRIC ON DECEMBER 6, 2015, 19:59 GMT

@Waterfallfan: The team looks good but I think Cook would be to busy opening and captaining England against SA to open for them. Unless if there's some other Cook your talking about who is an opening batman for SA.