Opener? Temba's ready

09 September 2016 - 09:54 By KHANYISO TSHWAKU

The Elkah Stadium in Soweto was the perfect place for Temba Bavuma to make a statement, especially after his selection to the ODI squad to play Ireland. And his 118-ball 117 sent the perfect message to the selectors. "I've heard I may be used as an opener but if you're a batsman, you need to be able to adapt to any position. You have to be able to slot in from No1 to No6," said Bavuma."So I'll grab any chance to play in the ODI side. If I do open I think my technique is sound enough," he said."If I get to bat in the middle order, it's okay. I just want to play. That's the most important thing to me. At the end of the day, it's a big deal if I get into the ODI squad because it's something I've not expected. I have aspirations of playing in other formats. Now the chance has arrived and I need to make the most of it."Bavuma faces a different struggle at his Lions franchise. The team has had excellent openers over the years so Bavuma has become a key presence in the middle order for all formats."If an opportunity arises at the top I'll certainly use him there if I'm asked to. He's a quality player," said Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana...

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