Conrad wants impact, not consistency, from Brevis

Conrad wants impact, not consistency, from Brevis

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has emphasized he values impact over consistency from Dewald Brevis in T20 cricket. "Consistency is really not something we look for in T20 cricket. We're watching for impact, and Dewald is that player. He can make an impact on the game singlehandedly," Conrad said.

He pointed to Brevis's performances in the SA20, where the batter stood up during the knockout stages. After a lean period, Brevis scored 53 off 47 in a crucial league game and then hammered 75* off 38 in a qualifier. He followed that with 101 off 56 in the final, though his team lost.

"He thrives on the big occasion. He's an X-factor player, and we'll give him his head and allow him to do that," Conrad added.

This approach will be tested in South Africa's first T20 World Cup Super Eight match against unbeaten India on Sunday. A win could put a semifinal place within reach, while a loss increases pressure.

So far in the tournament, Brevis has scores of 6, 23, 21, and 36. His 36 off 25 against the UAE included three sixes and took South Africa close to victory. While the opposition attack differed from India's quality, Brevis has shown growing boldness as the tournament progresses, mirroring his SA20 trajectory.

An impactful performance against India would strongly reinforce Conrad's faith in Brevis's game-changing ability.