Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne passed 1,000 runs in Test cricket earlier this year. He has more Test runs than former openers Kepler Wessels, Stephen Cook and other several other fellow South African Test cricketers.
Verreynne has hit Test centuries against four countries – and will have the opportunity to add a fifth against Australia during this month’s World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s.
“My job at six or seven is not always about scoring big runs. Sometimes it’s a quick 40 to set a target, or a fighting 30, batting with the bowlers. It is always very nice to contribute to the team and make an impact on the game,” said Verreynne.
“To me, character is about a few things. Never giving up. Getting it done. Showing fight.”
Verreynne debuted in Test cricket in 2021, when captain Dean Elgar and head coach Mark Boucher‘s tenures were ongoing. Elgar and Boucher have since been succeeded by new captain Temba Bavuma and head coach Shukri Conrad, respectively.
“What Shukri and Temba have created is incredible. They encourage each of us to be ourselves, and I think it has brought out the very best of us,” added Verreynne.
“Shukri basically told me that he and the coaches backed me. That backing just gave me so much confidence, and allowed me the focus on my job,” he admits.
“Shukri often says he doesn’t care how it looks, as long as it gets the job done. And, if you look at this team, there are a lot of guys whose main goal is to just get the job done.”
This will be the first time South Africa have contested a WTC final. Australia are the reigning WTC title holders. New Zealand won the inaugural WTC final in 2021.
“It’s Lord’s. It’s an International Cricket Council final, against Australia, who have been the benchmark in Test cricket for so long. It is everything you dream of as a cricketer,” concluded Verreynne.
MORE LATEST WTC final cricket news
- 9 former Proteas comment on WTC final – ‘Test cricket is not for sissies’
- Mark Boucher: You’re not going to get rid of the chokers tag
- Ryan Rickelton: Shukri Conrad has been pretty blunt and honest with me
- Marco Jansen: Maybe I will pick Stuart Broad’s brain
- Keshav Maharaj nearing Test record – ‘Hopefully I can add 200 more before I am done’
- Alviro Petersen: I think Ryan Rickelton will be okay at Lord’s
- Vernon Philander: Australia have a bit of a defect against the moving ball
- Ashwell Prince has ‘all possibilities open’ for number 3 in WTC final batting order
- Graeme Smith: Temba Bavuma and the team can’t have a soft session at Lord’s
- Dane Paterson: I never thought I was going to get this opportunity again