Dewald Brevis has scored 194 runs for Pretoria Capitals thus far in Betway SA20 Season 4. With his auction purchase price having been a record R16.5 million, it equates to just over R850 000 per run.
Even without the credentials of an investment banker, that does not seem like a strong return on expenditure.
Personally, the price tag doesn’t make the player for me. Franchise auctions are a lottery at the best of times, and fortunately for Brevis the numbers fell right for him.
My concern is more about how Brevis goes about his business. Is he learning after every innings, or is he guilty of the same mistakes?
It has become clear that Brevis will be targeted by the short ball, and that orthodox spin will take a backseat when he walks to crease for everyone knows that he bludgeons the slower bowlers with ease.
He has certainly succumbed to the bumper on a few occasions during the SA20.
There’s no doubt that all the SA20 footage will be surveyed ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
It is for this reason that I do hope that Brevis is actively processing the learnings after each innings.
There have been moments to suggest that he is absorbing the lessons, particularly after helping to rescue the Capitals from the perilous position of 7/5 in the last match at the Wanderers.
Although he had the good fortune of being dropped early on, Brevis reigned in his game to adapt to the situation at hand.
“I have full faith in the way I play that if the ball’s not going for a boundary, it’s because it’s a good ball or good fielding,” Brevis said.
“So, when I was on, like, one off, I don’t know how many balls, it was almost, like, I just reminded myself that they’re actually bowling well, and to be fair, their field placement was also good with the wicket.
“I knew it was always around the corner, like, the ability to strike and hit boundaries and stuff.”
Equally, Brevis has also shown the maturity not to be dragged into any personal ego battles, like when Joburg Super Kings’ Donovan Ferreira tried to bait him with some sledging.
“Yeah, he’s obviously trying to, as an opposition player, trying to get into your head. And, yeah, I love a battle,” Brevis said.
“I enjoy it. Me, I don’t have to react to anything. I know what’s going to happen because it’s spin, and I love facing spin. So, yeah, I’ll let the bat talk, I would say. I love it.”
Brevis is certainly hoping his bat will do the talking as the Capitals head into the Betway SA20 playoffs and that he can carry this form with him to the upcoming T20 World Cup.
