After three years away from international cricket, all-rounder George Linde made a triumphant return to the Proteas team with a stellar performance in the first T20 International against Pakistan at Kingsmead, Durban. Linde's heroics earned him the Man of the Matchaward, helping South Africa secure an 11-run victory.
His day did not get off to the best of starts though as he missed the team bus to the stadium but put all of that behind him to produce one of his best performances in the green and gold.
For some reason, my phone was 15 minutes behind so I thought to myself I’m going to walk down and get into the bus nice and early and then as I got out, there is the bus leaving and that feeling was not great. Luckily there was the police escort and they took me to the bus. Actually no one realised I was not on the bus which was quite cool. It was embarrassing. I reckon for the next game I might just be late again.
Once on the field, Linde played a critical role with both bat and ball. He smashed 48 off just 24 balls to boost South Africa’s total to 182 for nine, and then took 4-21 to restrict Pakistan to 172 for eight, sealing the win in front of a packed Durban crowd.
Reflecting on his return to international cricket for the first time since 2021, Linde admitted it hadn’t been an easy journey:
I did struggle for a year or two. It was one of those things but then I had a nice long break from the game for about six months. I think that helped me a lot. I always had hopes off coming back into the Proteas team. I did give myself the best shot to try and come back through training, gym, pre-season. Like if it didn’t happen, so be it, I am still proud of my career.
Proteas Cricket on the Up
Linde also expressed his excitement about the future of South African cricket which he says is in a healthy state.
If we even look at the SA 20 and see how much of talent we have around the country is actually scary and for the test squad to do so well is unbelievable. I know people probably thought it might never happen but I know as a Protea cricket fan if I look at the talent that’s in that dressing room, it’s no surprise to me.
In 12 T20 international matches played in South Africa, both teams now have six wins each. The next two games will be played in Centurion on December 13 and in Johannesburg a day Later.
They will then contest a three match one-day international series, in Paarl on December 17, Cape-Town on December 19 and Johannesburg on December 22. The tour will end with two test matches, in Centurion from December 26-30 and Cape Town from January 03-07. Pakistan have won two one-day series in South Africa.
They won the series 2-1 in 2013/2014 and 2-1 in 2021. They have never won a test series in SA, the best being a drawn series in the 1997/1998 season.
The Proteas moved to the top of the World Test Championship standings with a 109 run win against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha on Monday, December 9 and are now just one win away from a place in the 2025 final at Lord’s. They have two more tests remaining in this cycle to clinch that place in the final. They need just one win from the two match series against Pakistan to make it to Lord’s.
“The championship table looks good,” said Temba Bavuma, captain of the South African test side after the win against Sri Lanka.
We see ourselves at number one with two games to go. I don’t know what the maths looks like but we’re playing good cricket and we want to continue.
Australia are second, India third and Sri Lanka fourth in the current world test championship standings.
The final of the third edition of the World Test Championship will be played at Lord’s in June 2025 after 27 series and 69 matches in the league stage.
