South Africa’s newest wicketkeeper and top-order batter, Connor Esterhuizen, has found a positive in the Covid-19 pandemic. The global pause, which halted competitive sport in South Africa for months, ultimately benefited him and solidified his commitment to cricket.
Esterhuizen’s Unexpected Opportunity
Esterhuizen said Covid was very important for him, calling it ‘sort of a saving grace in cricketing terms’. Before the pandemic, he didn’t make the teams he wanted to during his school career. He wasn’t sure if he was good enough to play professionally after school.
Covid gave him a break from the game, according to Esterhuizen. He spoke at the post-match press conference in Wellington, where he was named Player of the Match for the fourth T20I against New Zealand.
He said he worked his way up from club and university cricket into the Lions B team. He got opportunities at Lions level and played a little bit more throughout the last two years.
From Club Cricket to the South Africa Squad
Esterhuizen attended St Johns College in Johannesburg. He wasn’t part of any representative age-group sides but debuted provincially for Lions in 2022.
Batting at No. 7, he scored 52 off 58 balls in the domestic one-day cup, securing a match-winning performance. Since then, he has moved into the top three, played for the South African A side, and scored four hundreds in the most recent first-class competition. He has also represented two SA20 franchises: MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals.
His growth was rewarded with a call-up to the South African squad for this series. He is currently the leading run-scorer.
Esterhuizen said he has tried to take his game to another level. He added that for most people the talent is always there, but it’s hard to use that talent and the decision-making that comes with it. He believes that is key the higher up you go in this game.
Navigating Success and Failure
Esterhuizen said dealing with failures is important, because this game is a game of failures. He added that when you succeed, you need to take it in. He believes knowing how to deal with those failures the higher up you go will stand you in good stead.
So far, Esterhuizen has experienced both success and failure on the New Zealand tour. He anchored South Africa’s chase of 91 with an unbeaten 45 in game one.
However, he was dismissed for 8 and 15 in matches two and three while trying to play big shots. He said that in the second game, he was maybe a bit defensive and didn’t have as much intent as he could have. He added that in the last game, maybe he was trying to play a shot a ball.
His 57 in the fourth match demonstrated his capabilities with strong hitting down the ground and through the midwicket area. He was the only batter, on either side, to get past 32. His improved application was a result of trusting his own game, playing what was in front of him, normal cricket shots, and waiting for the ball.
Esterhuizen’s journey reflects how unexpected opportunities, like the Covid-19 pandemic, can reshape a player’s career trajectory.