AIMING HIGH Senuran Muthusamy will aim to play a part in the Pakistan series with the first match taking place in Centurion on Boxing Day and the New Year’s Test in Cape Town. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP
He may have not cracked the nod for the Proteas starting XI in either of the Tests against Sri Lanka, but allrounder Senuran Muthusamy is hoping to play a key role for South Africa in their quest to make the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
If South Africa win the second Test against Sri Lanka which started in Gqeberha on Thursday, and then their two Tests against the visiting Pakistan over Christmas and New Year, the Proteas will book their spot in the WTC final at Lord’s in June next year.
Muthusamy has been unable to cement himself in the Proteas Test team, after making his debut in 2019. Having played two Tests against India five years ago, it would be four years before he played another match in the longest format as he was included in the team which played West Indies in Centurion in February 2023.
However, the 30-year-old finally proved his worth in the second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram in October. Muthusamy played a key role in South Africa posting 576/6 declared in the first innings, as he made 68 not out coming in at number eight. He then went on to return a match haul of 5/68 as the Proteas claimed an innings and 273-run victory.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Muthusamy said making that WTC final was the ultimate goal.
“It was fantastic to get back in to the Test squad, and it is an awesome space at the moment, and moving ahead, it will be all about taking care of that,” said Muthusamy.
“I thoroughly enjoyed Bangladesh and the subcontinent; it was a fantastic experience, and I am just really grateful to have been able to put in a good performance for the team to help us win that series 2-0.
“We are in a fantastic position with regards to the WTC; we know what we need to do; we’ll just take it game by game against both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“It is a fantastic position to be in, and we will follow our processes and deal with what is in front of us. We look forward to that challenge.”
It came as something of a surprise that Muthusamy did not make the Proteas team in the first Test against Sri Lanka last week, but especially in the second clash.
Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder both picked up injuries in the first Test, which meant the Proteas had to plug some gaps. Instead of choosing Muthusamy, the Proteas went with bowler Dane Paterson and wicketkeeper batsman Ryan Rickelton.
As a left arm spinner, Muthusamy would have fancied his chances in the windy city.
Instead, Muthusamy will aim to play a part in the Pakistan series with the first match taking place in Centurion on Boxing Day and the New Year’s Test in Cape Town.
“I do put a lot of time and effort into my batting as well as my bowling, and its fantastic to be able to contribute in all departments of cricket, and that is where I feel my value lies within the team.”
Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad, however, has made Muthusamy feel at home in the squad.
“Shukri has been instrumental in my development and in helping me be myself in the Test team, and the group as a whole has been a fantastic environment to be a part of, and that is credit to the coach for lining things up well and setting up the group as he wants it.
“The guys are able to be themselves and are able to contribute in different ways and add value. A lot of guys have moved their careers forward and developed nicely under his leadership, and the results have shown that we are in a really good space.”
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