All-rounder George Linde feels he deserves his spot in the Proteas World Cup squad, and believes his MI Cape Town teammates can bounce back after winless record four matches into the new SA20 season.
Linde was included in the Proteas squad for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India, a feat that the 34-year-old believes he deserves as one of the leading spin-bowling all-rounders in the country.
The all-rounder has gone through many ups and downs in his career, and has been overlooked for World Cups or ICC events in the past.
Because of his persistence and determination, Linde’s selection is a moment to be proud of, not only for himself, but also for his family.
“It feels pretty amazing (being included in the World Cup squad). It hasn’t sunk in yet. I think when I get on the plane to the World Cup it will sink in. I’m really looking forward to it and I feel like I sort of deserve it. Hopefully we can win it for South Africa,” Linde said.
“(I have had) plenty of ups and downs. That’s just how my career has gone. But I’ve always found a way to fight back, which I’m proud of.
“I think my batting is a big thing. I obviously did struggle a little bit with the bat, but last year I took the whole winter off. I didn’t want to play any cricket just to reflect and get fit again and go through all those hard things people don’t know.
“When you go through a tough time while you’re training, you find a way to actually get through tough times in cricket as well.
“Look, from last year I did tell myself whatever happens must happen. Everything happens for a reason in life. Luckily I got the call and it’s a proud moment for me and my family.”
Here at home, Linde and his MI Cape Town teammates have had a rather slow start to the defence of the SA20 trophy, having not won a single match in four fixtures thus far.
However, Linde believes that the MI Cape Town change room has the characters needed to turn their fortunes around.
“It’s a big competition. We play for MI Cape Town, which is a massive franchise. You want to win games for them and unfortunately I couldn’t do it. It’s obviously very disappointing,” Linde said.
“But it’s still a great squad. I remember Pollard said in MI New York, we had exactly the same start as now. We lost four or five in a row and the next five we won.
“We found ourselves in the play-off and then got to the final and we won it. One thing this team can show is fight.
“If you look at the squad, there’s a lot of internationals, there’s a lot of experience in the squad.
“One thing I know is these guys know how to bounce back. If we can get ourselves to a play-off, I reckon we are a very dangerous side. I don’t think a lot of people would want to play against us then.”
MI Cape Town will return to action at 3.30pm on Sunday when they host Paarl Royals at Newlands Stadium.
