Proteas new batting star Jordan Hermann may want to take his girlfriend, Inge Krog, all over the world with him as he navigates his international career.
Hermann struck 150 in his Proteas ODI debut in Windhoek on Wednesday, equalling Proteas teammate Matthew Breetzke’s world-record score in South Africa’s 99-run win over Namibia.
The stylish left-hander believes his good fortune was a result of Krog’s presence in the stands.
“My girlfriend was also here. I believe she’s a bit of a good luck charm,” he said post-match.
Krog must indeed have some special powers — because the left-hander was actually caught short of his ground by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end when he had just 30.
The on-field umpires gave Hermann not out. With no DRS available in Windhoek, the reprieve stood, and Hermann made sure it counted.
He progressed from that let-off to a half-century, then a century, then all the way to 150 — 126 balls, 17 fours and 3 sixes — growing more aggressive the further he went, unfurling a flurry of boundaries through scoops and drives once three figures were up.
“It’s incredibly special,” Hermann said. “I’ve been taught my whole life that you don’t just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further. I think that was also what the conditions were asking, so not just get a hundred but push on a bit.
“I didn’t want to give Namibia a sniff because they’re a good team and they’d get leverage to work with [if I got out]. I was trying to kill all sense of any bad patches of play that they can capitalise on. [I’m] chuffed that I could do that and get us in a winning position.”
For most of his 126 balls at the crease, Hermann was partnered by Tony de Zorzi, the pair adding 190 off 167 balls for the second wicket as de Zorzi made a solid 72 — a timely return to form after a lean T20I series. Hermann, who played alongside de Zorzi at the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, was grateful to have that experience at the other end through the tricky middle overs.
“I think we communicated well. It was a tricky stage. I think if we lose two wickets there, it gives them the sniff,” he said. “I think Tony’s played quite a bit of international cricket now, so there wasn’t really pressure, to be honest. We said this is what we’re going to do and we stuck at it.
“I don’t like saying it, but it’s just how cricket goes sometimes. I think people overreact with two or three innings and people are up in arms. A good player is always right at the top, so I have no concern about anything like that.
“Tony’s an incredible player, and I’m sure he’ll play a lot of great innings for the Proteas. Sometimes he leads the charge and sometimes he contributes to a match-winning partnership. It was very nice playing with Tony. It was very easy. We chilled.”
The stand underpinned South Africa’s 348/6, which Namibia — set a revised DLS target of 262 — never threatened, finishing 162/8 as the Proteas took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Hermann was named Player of the Match.
The 150 also made Hermann and Breetzke the only two players in men’s ODI history to have scored a century-and-a-half on debut — a coincidence not lost on a player who has shared a dressing room with Breetzke at the Warriors, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and now the Proteas.
“It’s very cool to share something with him, actually,” Hermann said. “I’ve played quite a bit with Matty. So it’s cool to share a changing room now at the Proteas because of all the success he has had in the ODI format and with the Proteas.”
The second ODI will be on Friday in Windhoek.
