Proteas back Dewald Brevis' 'X-factor' ahead of T20 World Cup Super Eights

The Proteas have no intention in tightening the reins on Dewald Brevis as they believe the youngster has the ‘X-factor’ to be match-winner at the T20 World Cup. 

Brevis has yet to fire in three matches, with scores of 6, 23 and 21 against Canada, Afghanistan and New Zealand respectively. 

The 22-year-old, who struck a breathtaking century in the Betway SA20 Final last month, hasn’t looked out of touch, but just seems to be rushing his process. 

The Proteas face the UAE on Wednesday (7:30am start SA time) in Delhi, which is effectively a dead-rubber as qualification to the Super Eights has already been assured, and it could just be the type of game that Brevis needs to kickstart his T20 World Cup campaign ahead of the more pressurised matches against India and West Indies. 

“We see him as an X-factor player,” Proteas skills coach Albie Morkel said. “You know, we feel if you sort of ask him to play a certain way, you take away that X-factor. 

“You know, he's going to break your heart at some stage, but he's also going to win you games. So the best way for us, you know, with him is just to let him be that guy.

“We've got enough guys around him who can sort of play the situation if needed. But he's certainly our X-factor player.”

Without wanting to discount the UAE, who were competitive in their last match against Afghanistan, Morkel has already locked into the blockbuster rematch with defending champions India in Ahmedabad on Sunday. 

A sold-out 135 000-strong crowd is expected to stream through the turnstiles at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which is set to be transformed into a pressure cooker for this much-anticipated clash.

“I think we were in a very tough group. That game against Afghanistan still gives me nightmares. It could have gone either way,” Morkel said.

“I guess the first box is ticked, getting through to the next stage. To me, the World Cup starts now. Every game will be a tough game.

“Luckily, we'll be in Ahmedabad again, where we're sort of used to the conditions now. So let's see.”

Morkel, though, believes the Proteas have the experience to handle the high-pressure matches that are on the horizon.

“Like I said earlier, I think the World Cup really starts now. Even though we had a tough group, you know, now you face India, possibly Australia or Zimbabwe, and what's the other one? West Indies in our group. So it's really tough. It's going to be all good games,” he said.

“Yes, the pressure, you know, there will be more pressure on those games, of course, as you move later towards the playoffs. But I feel we've got a very experienced group, bowlers and batters. So guys that've been exposed to that, whether it's in IPL or other leagues, yes, international cricket is a little bit different, but guys that can handle that pressure.

“So, yeah, I think we actually will thrive under those circumstances where there's a bit more pressure on the games. Yeah, so not too worried. I think my mother, she's more worried than us.

"She doesn't know who to support, India or South Africa.”